The Minister announced that almost £21 million in further Covid grants is being issued to over 850 manufacturing businesses across all council areas. The one-off grant of up to £25,000 is an automatic payment being made to manufacturing businesses operating from commercial premises with a Net Annual Value (NAV) between £15,001 and £51,000. Finance Minister Conor Murphy said: “Manufacturing businesses are an essential part of our economy employing over 85,000 people across the North. Like many other sectors they’ve been adversely impacted throughout the pandemic. “This one-off grant of up to £25,000 grant will provide over £1.1m to 49 businesses in the Causeway Coast and Glens borough, most of which were unable to access grant support in the initial lockdown. “I hope this grant scheme combined with the second year of a 12 months rates holiday will support our manufacturing industry and give them the capacity to recover and grow in the time ahead.” Welcoming the grants, Stephen Kelly of Manufacturing NI said: “This is an incredibly welcome investment by the Finance Minister. “The last year has been the most difficult business environment anyone is likely to have experienced and our SME manufacturers more than most have suffered. These grants will save jobs and allow our manufacturers to invest to deliver the post-Covid economic recovery which the Executive desire and the community need”.