A Kirkcudbright hotelier is optimistic his crisis-hit business could be thrown a Covid-19 cash lifeline within days.
Chris Walker warned last week that the Selkirk Arms could close without money to keep going.
The hotel, which employs 27 people, was ineligible for a £25,000 aid package because its rateable value exceeded the £51,000 threshhold.
But intense behind the scenes lobbying has prompted the Scottish Government to broaden its funding criteria.
Mr Walker said: “I suspect by the end of the week we will know something. I feel there is movement and that they recognise there are quite a lot of us who have fallen through the cracks.
“I am hopeful that we will fall into one of the categories and get some form of grant assistance.”
He added: “It’s looking like there’s light at the end of the tunnel, as long as somebody doesn’t come and build another tunnel.
“All we ask for is a level playing field.”
The Balcary Bay Hotel, the Cally Palace and the Cocoa Bean at Twynholm had joined forces with the Selkirk to press for changes.
The Cocoa Bean is closed and has had to furlough its entire 32-strong workforce.
Director Hannah Beck, 28, said: “Until the money is in the bank I’m not counting on anything.
“We have heard there’s something coming but it never has. We feel totally abandoned and isolated.
“We put everything we had into this business in blood, sweat and tears.
“If we don’t receive some funding as other businesses have then we won’t survive.
“And that’s not just the tourist side but the manufacturing arm also.”
Deputy council leader Rob Davidson said: “We understand their situation and we know that they don’t fit the current scheme.
“These are the scale of businesses we don’t want to lose.
“That’s why, behind the scenes, we are working out how to get support to them as quickly as possible.”
Tourism secretary Fiona Hyslop announced the expansion of the business support scheme at Holyrood on Tuesday.
She said: “For tourism and hospitality companies of up to 50 employess there will be easy access to £3,000 hardship grants and
larger grants of £25,000 where it can be demonstrated that it is needed.”
