Scottish Government's Finance Secretary hails £69m grant support for 6500 Highland businesses; Kate Forbes, who is also the Dingwall-based MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, said the grants has made a 'massive difference' in Ross-shire and the wider Highlands
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GRANTS worth £69 million have made a "massive difference" for almost 6500 Highland businesses and the people of the region during the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, a Ross MSP has said.
Kate Forbes, the MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, was responding after the latest figures from the Scottish Government revealed the scale of the support.
When compared to the 31 other local authorities in Scotland, the Highland Council area is the third highest beneficiary through the Scottish Government scheme, with only Glasgow and Edinburgh city council regions receiving more.
The Small Business Grant Scheme and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Grant Scheme were designed to support small businesses and the retail, hospitality and leisure sector.
Ms Forbes, who is also the Finance Secretary, said: “I know that this has been a very challenging period for businesses during the crisis.
“These grants have made a massive difference across the Highlands.
“The Scottish Government moved quickly at the outset to put funding in place and as the initial phases come to a conclusion we can see just how many businesses have received support.”#
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