Support for Scotland’s Coastal Businesses Struggling through COVID-19 Outbreak

Support for Scotland’s Coastal Businesses Struggling through COVID-19 Outbreak

Scottish Crown Estate revenue is now available to help ease the pressures on coastal enterprises in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Coastal businesses and third sector organisations affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) can now benefit from a £7.2 million Scottish Crown Estate fund which is devolved to local authorities.

The 26 councils with coastlines in Scotland can use their remaining share of the fund, which they have not yet allocated, to offer direct support to struggling coastal enterprises and organisations, after agreement by the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA).

The fund, from Scottish Crown Estate net revenues, is normally used for projects delivering coastal community benefit.

This is on top of the £2.2 billion package of business support already announced by the Scottish Government.

Environment and Climate Change Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said:

‘Given the unprecedented pressures which businesses are currently facing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are doing everything we can to support them.

‘By widening the remit for the use of Scottish Crown Estate revenues we are enabling local authorities to directly support local coastal businesses, including third sector organisations, facing the full force of this economic shock.

‘Following discussions with COSLA we have written to local authorities to encourage them to look at ways they can use these funds, where required, to help hard-pressed businesses and organisations to get through this challenging period.’

GRANTfinder is closely monitoring all the relevant news about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the consequences for the funding landscape. This dedicated page will keep you updated on which funds and extra support have been announced to counteract the impact of the outbreak.