The "flash fuel loan" will be extended to the construction industry, announces Lescure

The "flash fuel loan", created in early April to support the cash flow of certain small businesses, will be extended to the construction sector, Economy Minister Roland Lescure announced on Monday, May 11.

"We had reserved this loan for farmers, fishermen, road haulers, especially small road haulers, and individual taxis. We are extending it in the coming days to the construction sector, because there too, they have bills that are increasing," the minister said on the program C à vous on France 5.

Furthermore, he specified, "we are finalizing the June aid packages, which we will announce in the coming days."

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is expected to announce new measures this week to support economic activity, in the face of a prolonged surge in fuel prices, while the war in the Middle East shows no sign of ending.

"We can maintain this course" of supporting economic activity, "but now (...) we will have to change the scope and scale," the Prime Minister stated last week before the National Assembly. He affirmed his intention to "adapt all measures to support economic activity and the economy."

Unveiled in early April, the "flash fuel loan" allows lending sums of 5.000 to 50.000 euros at a rate of 3,8%, without requiring collateral, to certain very small businesses (TPEs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The Ministry of Economy specified that 3,3 million euros in loans had been disbursed for applications already submitted by companies in the sectors initially concerned.

Several hundred companies have submitted applications, which are currently being reviewed, for a total of approximately 30 million euros.

The Ministry of Transport also announced that the application window for another form of aid, a one-off grant to "public road transport companies in difficulty", would open on Tuesday afternoon.

This takes the form of a "flat-rate aid per vehicle, taking into account average consumption and ranging from 70 to 500 euros depending on the vehicle category," the ministry said in a statement.

Companies providing "public road transport of goods or passengers" or "medical transport" can claim up to 60.000 euros.

The government noted that companies most affected by rising fuel prices could also "benefit from deferrals of social security contributions and tax deadlines".