NI flooding: Businesses offered grants up to £100k

Businesses affected by last month's flooding may be able to access grants of up to £100,000 in new funding.

The Executive Office said up to £10m was being made available to help small and medium-sized businesses.

The widespread flooding devastated homes and businesses in a number of places, including Downpatrick, Newry and Portadown.

Affected businesses had previously been offered a £7,500 grant.

The overall £15m package came alongside a 100% rates relief up to 31 March 2024.

The Executive Office (TEO) said to qualify businesses must have been open and trading on the date of the flooding and were either unable to obtain insurance cover against flooding through no fault of their own or their insurance company had refused to pay out.

Its statement added the business must continue trading or resume trading in the same town centre.

It has been a busy Thursday evening in Downpatrick as news broke that the second round of funding is being released for businesses impacted by flooding.

Last week, a number of those businesses said they had been deemed ineligible for the first £7,500 payment because they had flood insurance.

One of those was Shelley Teggart, who owns Dilly Dally gift shop and Teggart & Sons Hardware.

Both stores were destroyed and now operating from new premises.

For Shelley, Thursday's news has been met with cautious optimism.

"We've received nothing from the insurance yet," she said.

"It's been slower than we anticipated. There's been x,y,z reasons for that but I think this latest scheme is set to start on 8th Jan.

"So hopefully we'll see something from that. We're not out of the woods yet.

"We were excluded initially but we may now be entertained in the next round of funding. So if the insurance is inadequate they might supplement us."

Announcing the latest funding, a TEO spokesperson said: "We have been working closely with the local councils in the affected districts to develop a proposal to support the businesses which were most severely affected.

"We want to provide support that will help businesses to re-open and resume trading or remain open and continue trading, and to help secure the economic future of the town centres affected by the flooding."

Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard, whose South Down constituency was one of the worst affected areas, said he understood the package was "flexible and open to many businesses who were previously excluded".

"This will hopefully bring relief to many local businesses who have been struggling to recover from last month's devastating floods, particularly as we approach Christmas," he added.

The funding will be administered by local councils, with details about how to apply available in early January.