Council Outlines First Steps in Distributing Funding Package Support for Businesses
Following the severe recent floods in South Down, businesses have been waiting to hear what is on offer from the government for help in the first steps in getting back to normal.
Newry Mourne and Down District Council has outlined the first steps in distributing the funding package provided through the Northern Ireland Office aimed at flood affected businesses and aiding with clean-up costs.
The Council is implementing the aid package.
In a visit to Newry yesterday Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris has said up to £15m of support will be made available in Northern Ireland.
The first step for the Council will be to administer and deliver the £7,500 being made available to individual businesses impacted in the district. It is estimated that the Council will start to deliver cheques to flooded businesses week commencing Monday 13 November.
Part of the £15m package is to support the wider economic recovery.
To inform this, the Council will be contacting each of the impacted businesses in the coming days to establish more detail on the scale and scope of the damage and determine the most appropriate financial package for business.
The Northern Ireland Civil Service has also announced further details of the financial support, which includes rates relief for flooded businesses.
The rates relief measure will include 100% relief for non-domestic rates on flooded properties for the period between 1 November and 31 March 2024.
In addition, any business that relocates to temporary premises while their flooded property is being repaired will be eligible for 100% rates relief on the new premises for three months.
Further details are available at:
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Valerie Harte said: “The Council will work quickly and closely with the relevant Government departments to deliver the financial package to local businesse.
“It will also continuing to seek additional support for businesses.”
