28/1/2010 - Flood Recovery Grant offers top £570,000

With a flurry of applications received last week, the amount of offers made under the Flood Recovery Grant Scheme now stands at £572,206.

Offers have been made to 106 applicants from a wide range of small and medium businesses around the county.   Not surprisingly most are in Cockermouth, but the scheme is also helping other flooded businesses around the county.

Suzanne Caldwell, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, comments “Experience shows that getting the right support into businesses quickly is really important in helping them to recover – providing not just practical help but an important psychological boost.   So we’re delighted that, working with partners, we’ve been able to get help into affected businesses so quickly.

“Looking at the business recovery plans submitted and talking with businesses, it’s especially encouraging to see that, rather than focussing purely on survival, people are putting in place some great activities, taking the opportunity to move their businesses forward positively.

“As well as the Flood Recovery Grants we’re working with partners to help indivudal businesses access any other help available to them.”

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) launched the Flood Recovery Scheme just days after the floods.

Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA, said: “While most of Cumbria is back to business as usual there are others still working hard to recover.   It is excellent to see that so many are accessing the grants available and reaching the half a million mark is a significant milestone.”

Cllr Tony Markley, Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet member responsible for economic development adds “We’re committed to helping businesses get back to normal as quickly as possible, and delighted that the Flood Recovery Grants are doing just that.   What’s really encouraging is the way business people are taking the opportunity to put in place improvements and that can only be positive for the county’s economy moving forward.”

The Flood Recovery Grant scheme is funded by the NWDA through Cumbria County Council, and administered by Cumbria Chamber of Commerce.   Advice is provided by Business Link Northwest and West Cumbria Development Agency.

Taking into account applications already in process, the funding is close to being fully allocated.

Notes to editors:

· For more information contact Suzanne Caldwell on 0845 226 0040 or 07825 050 298.

· Cumbria Chamber of Commerceis a not for profit company limited by guarantee, owned by its members for the benefit of members. Our aim is to help the business community throughout Cumbria to grow and prosper.

· For more information on the Chamber and its activities see www.cumbriachamber.co.uk