Hartlepool businesses receive nearly £35m in government Covid-19 support grants

Council officers have said more than £30million has been paid out across two tranches of Government support schemes.

The first tranche, announced in March 2020, saw £18.3million paid out in Hartlepool supporting 1,650 eligible businesses.

Council officers noted the second tranche has seen around £16.1million provided to businesses, with a “small amount” of the funding still to be provided to organisations by the deadline of the end of July

Chris Little, director of resources and development, noted the second tranche has consisted of “at least eight” different funding streams and that officers have been carrying out a “huge amount of work”.

He added that provided the council provides the necessary funding to businesses by the tranche two deadline then a third pot of funding of £440,000 will become available.

This will be used to support businesses in the hospitality sector.

The updates were provided at Tuesday’s meeting of the council’s economic growth and regeneration committee.

Cllr Pamela Hargreaves praised the council’s work, adding: “I have to say the information that was provided by Hartlepool Council, during the later stages, was very clearly set out.

“I’m sure there were individual frustrations from individual businesses, but it was a huge mammoth task to do with very little guidance and tight timescales in the middle of a pandemic with lots of other issues going on.

“It was difficult for everybody but I just think actually the way the information was set out was really helpful and really clear.”