APPLICATIONS for the Economic Resilience Fund will open on April 17.

The Fund, which has been recently announced by the Welsh Government, will provide additional financial support during the coronavirus pandemic and will help organisations to manage cash flow pressures.

It will help to address some of the gaps not met by schemes already announced by the UK Government, Welsh Government and Development Bank of Wales.

Chief executive, Ian Bancroft and council leader, Cllr Mark Pritchard, said: "The Fund is welcome and will help businesses and charities who are currently struggling with cash flow problems during the restrictions placed on us all during these very difficult times.

"But not everyone will be eligible so please check if you are eligible before you apply."

To be eligible for this second phase of support, businesses, charities and social enterprises, must meet certain criteria including:

- Micro businesses, including start-ups, employing up to nine employees could be eligible for up to £10k support. This includes sole traders employing staff.

Businesses in this bracket could qualify for support from the fund if they:

- Have experienced more than a 40 per cent reduction in turnover since March 1, 2020.

- Can demonstrate that efforts have been made to sustain business activity.

- Are not pursuing other forms of Welsh Government non-repayable grant funding support.

- Are not entitled to business rate relief grants.

- Are VAT registered or exempt from VAT.

- Operating address is in Wales and have employees in Wales.

Small and medium sized firms with between 10 and 249 employees could be eligible for grants of up to £100,000 if they:

- Have experienced more than a 60 per cent reduction in turnover since March 1, 2020.

- Are not eligible for business rate relief grants, or if they are, that amount would be deducted from their allocation from this fund.

- Have a sustainable business plan to trade beyond the Covid-19 pandemic.

- Confirm no future compulsory redundancies will be made as long as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme is in place.

- Are not be pursuing any other form of Welsh Government non-repayable grant funding support.

- Funding will also be available to support large businesses with more than 249 employees.

Applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis to consider where funding can be deployed most effectively to compliment other sources of support.

Full details on the eligibility criteria can be found at: https://fundchecker.businesswales.gov.wales/

The application process for businesses qualifying for financial support from the Economic Resilience Fund opens on Friday, April 17 via the Business Wales website.