GRANTS worth up to £9,000 will be rolled out to Redditch businesses to help them survive the latest national lockdown.
They will be available for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in the town.
Redditch MP Rachel Maclean said: “The impact of this lockdown on Redditch’s economy weighs heavily on my mind.
“This is a tough time for local businesses who employ thousands of my constituents.
“I’m grateful that the furlough scheme, paying 80 per cent of people’s wages, remains in place until April.
“And to further support businesses and jobs, the Chancellor has announced £4.6 billion in new lockdown grants.”
The one-off top-ups will be granted to closed businesses as follows: £4,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or under, £6,000 for businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000, and £9,000 for businesses with a rateable value of over £51,000.
CLICK HERE for more information.
Mrs Maclean added that she spoke with NHS bosses last night and it became ‘very clear’ that a national lockdown ‘was needed’.
“Worcestershire’s hospitals are currently treating more COVID patients than the first wave of this pandemic,” she said.
“No one wants to see the Alex overwhelmed, which is why the only option to prevent this is a lockdown.
“The way out of this pandemic is the vaccine; the UK is leading the way in the rollout of the vaccines, with more than one million people having already been vaccinated.
“The more quickly we vaccinate people, the quicker we can end these restrictions on our lives.
“Please stay safe everyone and stay at home.”
