Regional Government increases support for companies, ensuring combination of non-repayable support under Liquidity Anticipation measure with lines of credit
The Government of the Azores, through the Vice-Presidency, reinforced its support to Azorean companies by authorizing the accumulation of non-repayable support, within the scope of the Liquidity Anticipation measure for companies, with support under national credit lines, provided that companies keep all jobs until the end of the year.
According to a resolution published today in the Official Journal, the financial support already granted by the Regional Government under the Liquidity Anticipation measure for the payment of April salaries in April will now not have to be repaid by companies. It also applies to the cases where they have benefited from the national lines of credit created to support the treasure of companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as previously planned, if they maintain jobs until December 31, 2020.
This decision covers all applications submitted. It provides additional support for regional companies that may be combined with non-refundable grants, thus significantly increasing the support for Azorean companies.
As part of the Liquidity Anticipation measure aimed at companies that had to suspend or substantially reduce their activity, the Regional Government has granted financial support to 1,750 companies in the amount of approximately 6.5 million Euros, covering direct support for the salary of more than 10,500 workers.
As a measure of rapid application, the Liquidity Anticipation provides financial support that corresponds to 90% of the regional minimum wage per worker, provided that companies maintain all jobs by the end of the year.
This is an additional and exceptional measure in the national context. It was created by the Regional Government with the aim of supporting companies to meet the costs of workers' April salaries, thus being also a strong incentive to the maintenance of their workers.
The Liquidity Anticipation measure to help companies paying salaries and, consequently, safeguarding the maintenance of jobs and income of Azorean families falls within a set of more than 60 support measures created by the Government to minimise the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the lives of Azoreans.