Small business support continues
Erewash Borough Council has opened its third round of discretionary grant funding for small businesses in Erewash.
The council has widened the criteria of the latest funding scheme and is now urging qualifying firms to apply for help ahead of the deadline of Friday 24 July.
The changes include allowing small businesses with a rateable value of up to £65,000 (up from the previous £50,000) to apply for a grant and those with more than 50 employees can also now apply.
Under the discretionary scheme, the council has already approved grants totalling £715,500 to 109 local businesses following the first two rounds. Those businesses successful in their application employ nearly 800 employees in total.
The government funding is aimed at small businesses and includes those operating in shared spaces, regular market traders, small charity properties that would meet the criteria for small business rates relief and bed and breakfasts that pay council tax rather than business rates.
There are six levels of grant available ranging from £2,000 to £25,000. The level of award is related to the number of staff employed by the business and the severity of the fall in income due to the covid-19 crisis.
Councillor Wayne Major, Deputy Leader of Erewash Borough Council and Lead Member for Resources, says:
“We have distributed grant support to businesses as quickly and efficiently as possible throughout this difficult time and we continue that with this latest scheme to help those who missed out on previous covid-19 government grants.
“We have already helped many of these small businesses and by widening the criteria we are encouraging more to apply for funding in this third round. I urge eligible businesses to get in touch and apply as soon as possible.”
Details of the funding and an application form are online now at www.erewash.gov.uk Anyone wanting further information can email localbusinessgrants@erewash.gov.uk
Businesses that applied during the first two rounds of funding but did not meet the original scheme criteria will now automatically have their applications reconsidered and do not need to reapply.
As well as the council’s website, business ratepayers can find out more at
www.gov.uk/business-support
