A new £900,000 funding package has been announced to help small businesses in the West Midlands.
Unity Trust Bank has created the funding package for the Aston Reinvestment Trust (ART) which will provide financial support for firms across the region.
The new capital is expected to help more than 25 local businesses across a range of sectors which have seen their cash flow disrupted as a result of the coronavirus outbreak but which have been declined funding elsewhere.
ART is an accredited provider of the Government's Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.
Chief executive Steve Walkersaid: "We have a client base of 250 businesses and social enterprises.
"Most have been affected by the current situation - from facing the threat of closure to being inundated with demand for products.
"Thanks to this funding from Unity Trust Bank, we are hoping to support more than 25 businesses across a wide range of sectors in under-served areas and communities which have been declined financial help from other banks.
"This loan will make a big difference to businesses during these unprecedented times."
ART was established in 1997 to lend to businesses unable to access the finance they needed from banks and so enable them to create or preserve jobs.
Since 2005, Unity Trust Bank has provided ART with several funding packages totaling more than £13.2 million.
Jason James, relationship manager at the Birmingham-based bank, added: "We help to create a better society by working with a range of organisations that share our values.
"We support ART so they can deliver responsible, affordable lending to help small businesses which struggle to access finance from mainstream providers.
"These are difficult times for a lot of businesses and we are pleased that this latest funding package will help ART to support the Government's programme."
