More than £2.8 million worth of emergency Covid financial support has been provided to more than 1,000 Swansea businesses and charities since a new grant scheme went live earlier this month.

The scheme – funded by the Welsh Government and run by Swansea Council – covers retail, hospitality, leisure and tourism businesses, charities and not-for-profit organisations impacted by Wales’ move to alert level two in late December.

Eligible businesses as well as those in their supply chains which are liable to pay non-domestic rates could be entitled to grants of £2,000, £4,000 or £6,000, depending on their rateable value.

The council is now calling on all eligible businesses which have yet to apply to submit an application form by 5pm on Monday 14 February.

More information, eligibility criteria and registration and application details are now available at www.swansea.gov.uk/CovidNDRbusinessgrants

Cllr Rob Stewart, Swansea Council Leader, said:

“Our officers have already processed close to 1,000 successful applications, but we’d urge any eligible business or charity that’s yet to apply to get their forms in before the application window for this support closes.

“We’re aiming to process fully completed applications within seven working days, although applications that require further checking or supporting evidence will take longer to assess.

“This is among many ways the council is working with the Welsh Government and other partners to support our businesses during these extremely challenging times.”

An emergency grant scheme is also now available for Swansea businesses in the leisure, tourism, hospitality and retail sectors that do not pay business rates.

Funded by the Welsh Government and run by Swansea Council, the Emergency Business Fund grant scheme is aimed at helping support businesses impacted by current Covid restrictions which are not eligible for the Economic Resilience Fund.

Covering business impacted from Monday 13 December to Monday 14 February, online applications are now open which cover two levels of grant award:

• A £1,000 cash grant payment for hospitality, tourism, retail, leisure or related supply chain businesses which do not employ anyone apart from the owner, and do not have a property
• A £2,000 cash grant payment for hospitality, tourism, retail, leisure or related supply chain businesses who employ staff through PAYE (in addition to the owner)

Also covering freelancers in the creative sector, both these grants are aimed at supporting businesses with an annual turnover of less than £85,000.

Businesses which may be eligible are asked to visit fundchecker.businesswales.gov.wales/businesssupportwhere the Business Wales eligibility checker must be completed before applicants are able to access the application form.

All applications for these grants must also be submitted by 5pm on Monday 14 February.