BUSINESSES which have missed out on government coronavirus funding so far are being invited to apply for new discretionary grants.

Cornwall Coucnil has been allocated £13.5million to give out to those companies which have been unable to access previous financial support because they did not meet the criteria set.

Council deputy leader Adam Paynter said that the council had already distributed more than £220m in grants to businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

But he said that there had been “harrowing stories” from small businesses which missed out and are struggling as a result.

Cllr Paynter said that some firms had had no income at all since lockdown and were having to make difficult choices which would affect their livelihoods.

Applications for the new funding open toady (Fri 22 May), and Cllr Paynter said the first payments should be released in early June.

Standard grants available will be for up to £10,000 but he said that in “exceptional circumstances” there will be some grants of up to £25,000.

Cllr Paynter said he expeced that the level of need in Cornwall would be ’much higher than that which the grant scheme allows for’.

He urged any companies which may not be able to access funding to contact the council so that they could build a clear evidence-based picture of the need.

This would be used to lobby the government to provide further funding for businesses in Cornwall.

By Richard Whitehouse, local democracy reporter