Companies suffering from the consequences of the lockdown will have easier access to the so-called bridging aid III, said Hans Michelbach, member of the Bundestag. “This decision by the federal government is a good signal to the companies that are severely affected by the current closings,” emphasized the Coburg / Kronach constituency member Michelbach on Wednesday in Coburg.
With the changes initiated by Federal Minister of Economics Peter Altmaier, Michelbach continued, “the requirements for access will be significantly simplified and the maximum amount of funding and the down payments will be increased again noticeably”. In this way, the maximum monthly funding amount for bridging aid III will be increased to up to 1.5 million euros per company. In future there will only be one uniform criterion for eligibility to apply, namely a drop in sales of at least 30 percent in the funding period.
“In addition, the loss of value for unsaleable or seasonal goods in the retail sector, which is heavily affected by the measures, is recognized as reimbursable fixed costs. In addition, companies can claim investments in the structural modernization and implementation of hygiene concepts as well as investments in digitization and modernization as cost items Costs for setting up or expanding an online shop, “explained Michelbach.
Since the beginning of the Corona crisis, more than 75 billion euros in aid for the economy have been approved and disbursed: “Here, we are the front-runner in a European comparison.
The main points of the agreement to simplify Bridging Aid III include:
? Uniform criterion for the eligibility to apply: All companies with a drop in sales of more than 30 percent can receive the staggered fixed cost reimbursement. This means that there is no longer any differentiation in funding according to different sales collapses and periods of time, closing months and direct or indirect impact.
? The maximum funding limit will be increased to up to 1.5 million euros per funding month (previously 200,000 or 500,000), provided that this is permitted under state aid law. Funding months are November 2020 to June 2021.
? Part payments: Part payments are granted uniformly with Bridging Aid III not only for the companies affected by the closings. Payments on account of up to 100,000 euros for one funding month are possible instead of the previous 50,000 euros.
? Recognition of further cost items: Loss of value of unsaleable or seasonal goods are recognized as reimbursable fixed costs.
Investments in the structural modernization and implementation of hygiene concepts as well as investments in digitization and modernization can be claimed as a cost item, such as investments in the construction or expansion of an online shop. red
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