Liverpool City Region is set to provide funds to support businesses during the coronavirus crisis.
Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram will announce plans to redirect £15 million from existing Combined Authority projects to the new initiative on Thursday.
The plans include £5m to support businesses to access national government funds and improve the survival rate of LCR businesses during the pandemic.
Local authorities will have increased flexibility when using the £6m ringfenced for Town Centres Funds in efforts to support local high streets in the region.
A six-week ‘Sustain’ programme of intensive support will be rolled out for 240 small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across all sectors.
Also being launched is a ‘Gather’ programme that offers free online support to SMEs in the digital, creative and tech sector of the Liverpool City Region.
An online business resilience programme that will support 120 SMEs in the same fields as part of a new initiative called ‘Mettle’.
Mr Rotheram is also making £400,000 available to support micro-businesses and SMEs in the cultural sector which was announced on Wednesday.
He said: “We are locked in a battle with Coronavirus on many fronts.
“This is not just a medical emergency, but a health and social one too.
“Right now, in addition to protecting lives and supporting frontline workers, I’m focused on helping local businesses get the support that they need to secure their futures as well as those of their staff.
“I know that there are still gaps in support for too many businesses, but we are doing all that we can to help. There is no manual for dealing with a pandemic on this scale.
“Today, we’re bringing forward £15m of funding to help local businesses access the financial support and advice that is key to their immediate survival.
“As our region recovers from this – and it will – I want to use the lessons from this crisis to help shape the fairer, more inclusive economy and society that we are trying to build.”
For more information about what support is available to local businesses, visit growthplatform.org