North West Leicestershire District Council has begun to release more than £1million pounds a day to local businesses - after pulling together the information required to issue 1,650 grants in the district.

And, overall £20million, is due to be paid to eligible businesses in North West Leicestershire.

Ever since the announcement of the funding, teams at the council have worked at helping those businesses identified as qualifying for the Government's unprecedented financial support schemes - a process it says is that is still ongoing. 

By Thursday, April 9, £4.3 million will have been distributed to businesses after payments started to be made earlier this week, with this figure increasing every day.

The grant schemes are: The Small Business Grant Fund (£10,000 per eligible business; The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (£10,000 - £25,000 per eligible business).

As small businesses do not pay business rates, the Council held no bank details for the majority of businesses due to receive this funding and, to minimise the risk of receiving fraudulent claims, has been contacting each individual business by phone or by letter to obtain this information.

The Council identified the businesses potentially eligible for grants by comparing information held on local businesses against the government scheme, with some further checks taking place when contact has been made.

Business owners worried that they might have missed this contact are now being asked to submit an application online at the Council's business support page.

Councillor Richard Blunt, Leader of NWLDC, said: "We are here to support our communities and businesses through this pandemic.

"I'm extremely proud of the work our teams are doing to get the much-needed financial support out to businesses as quickly as we possibly can. This is now seeing in excess of £1million per day heading out to businesses – and this figure is only likely to increase.

"I'd like to thank the business owners in the district too for their patience – we know how important this funding is to you. This is a huge ongoing task - we still have more than £15m to pay out and we won't be resting until everyone has received their funding.

"It's hugely important we help businesses to get through this unprecedented situation because we want them to be in business to help rebuild our economy in the months to come."

Businesses looking for more information on the funding and the eligibility criteria can visit North West Leicestershire District Council's business support page.

All North West Leicestershire residents are encouraged to visit the council's coronavirus website Coronavirus support in North West Leicestershire for the latest information on community support, how services are operating, the help available to tenants and more.