Businesses affected by the devastating fire that destroyed a row of buildings on Union Street can now apply for a share of a multi-million recovery fund.
The Fire Recovery Fund is being rolled out by Glasgow City Council (GCC) after the Scottish Government committed £10million to support the city in the aftermath of the blaze.
The money has been made available to support local small businesses affected by the fire and its fallout.
Particularly those who lost their premises or have been unable to engage with regular customers as a consequence of the incident.
Eligible businesses can apply to the fund for financial assistance to help them recover, stabilise operations, and resume trading as quickly as possible with applications opening today (March 23).
Those who have been displaced due to the loss of the four-storey commercial building and the surrounding premises directly affected by the fire qualify for support.
Additionally, businesses located within the initial safety cordon, which was put in place on March 8, and the updated cordon area established on March 12, also qualify.
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There are three levels of support that will be available from the £4.395million fund.
What levels of assistance are available?
- £25,000 for each of the 7 businesses that lost their units in Forsyth House (£1.85million available).
- £15,000 for each of the 78 businesses in the current cordon. (£1.17million available).
- £2000 for each of the 700 businesses that were located within the initial emergency safety cordon (£1.4million available).
Council leader Susan Aitken says the local authority hopes to hear from traders “as soon as possible”.
Cllr Aitken commented: “It was very clear, even as the catastrophic fire at Union Street was still burning, that this incident was going to have a huge impact on a really wide variety of businesses - including a great number of small and independent businesses - in our city centre.
“Supporting them has been a key priority for the city - and opening this Fire Recovery Fund, with the backing of the Scottish Government, is a really significant step.
“We’re already in contact with many of the eligible businesses, but we hope to hear from traders as soon as possible so we can do what we can to help them get back in business.”
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Shona Robison, finance and local government secretary, added: “As soon as the full impact of this devastating fire became clear, the First Minister promised that the Scottish Government would provide immediate help for businesses and support their longer-term recovery.
“Alongside Glasgow City Council, we have designed a scheme that delivers on both these aims. It enables businesses to access financial help quickly while ensuring support reaches those most in need.
“By doing so, we are taking the first steps towards rebuilding and renewing this important part of Glasgow city centre, a process to which we have promised up to £10 million.”
Businesses looking to apply to the fund can do so on GCC’s website HERE.
The deadline for applications to the Fire Recovery Fund is April 5.
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