A BOROUGH council is urging small businesses to apply for grants after being awarded more than £1.4 million from the Government amid coronavirus.

Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) was given a cash boost of £1,411,250 from central government in a bid to support the economy as coronavirus lockdown continues to ease.

Now small businesses are being encouraged to apply for the grants after the scheme went live on Monday, where they could receive £10,000 under the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund.

This comes after the council processed more than 2,080 small business grants through the Business Support Scheme, valued at £25.715 million from government funding.

Leader of TVBC, cllr Phil North, said: “Since lockdown began, Test Valley Borough Council has paid out more than £25.5m in grants to almost 2,100 businesses in the borough to help them survive the coronavirus crisis.

“I would encourage any eligible business to come forward and apply for a grant.”

Grant payments of £2,500; £5,000; £7,500 or £10,000 will be paid will be awarded to small businesses who meet the criteria for the grant, which could be used to help with ongoing property costs.

Businesses can apply through the council’s website until the scheme closes on Sunday, 23 June.

The grant will not need to be paid back, but it will be taxable.

Businesses can check eligibility and guidance notes, and apply, via the council’s website under ‘coronavirus advice for businesses’.