MORE than £40million is being offered up to borough businesses as part of a package of relief during the coronavirus crisis.

Grants are being made available to businesses to help support them during the outbreak.

The cash relief is aimed at small businesses and those involved in the retail, hospitality and leisure industries.

Smaller businesses, with rateable values of up to £15,000, will be able to apply for grants of £10,000 while certain medium to larger firms in the retail, hospitality and leisure industries, with rateable values of less than £51,000, will have access to grants of £25,000.

It comes after the government’s national announcement of huge financial lifelines for businesses.

Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of Dudley Council, said: "It is important we act quickly to help businesses, many of which will be struggling under the strain of this outbreak.

"We have a dedicated team of advisers who will be contacting businesses to support them through the process and people can also apply online as well with just a few simple details.

"There are 4,000 eligible businesses across the borough and I urge them to get online and find out how we can help.”

A dedicated web page has been set up with an online form for businesses to apply. Eligible businesses can get more information on how to claim by visiting dudley.gov.uk/coronavirus-business-rates-grant/

Further advice and guidance is available online at dudleybusinessfirst.org.uk/coronavirus-business-guidance/.

Dudley Council will also soon be applying a full year of 100 per cent business rate relief for retail, leisure and hospitality businesses and nurseries.

The authority has also ordered a stop to bailiffs and court actions in cases of payment defaults, while direct debit payments of business rates were frozen initially and will be rescheduled for businesses that are still required to pay.