Support is being offered to small businesses and charities who may have missed out on earlier cash-relief, as the Discretionary Grants Fund is launched in Norwich today.
Following on from the small business grants scheme, which saw a total of more than £36.7million paid to 2,844 businesses, a further £2.03million is available and open to small and micro businesses, and charities, to apply for until Tuesday 30 June 2020.
Who can apply?
This additional funding is to provide much-needed support to those with high fixed property related costs, but were not eligible for either the small business, or the retail, hospitality and leisure grants.
Priority will be given to the following:
- small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces which do not have their own business rates assessment
- regular market traders with fixed building costs, such as rent, who do not have their own business rates assessment
- bed and breakfasts which pay council tax instead of business rates
- charities in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for small business rates relief.
Other businesses which may apply
The council will also use its discretion to consider applications received for assistance for businesses in the cultural, creative and technical sector. Applications received by 30 June from these will be considered if there is sufficient funding remaining once the above priority groups have been addressed.
Councillor Paul Kendrick, cabinet member for resources said:
“The effects of the coronavirus have been distressing to many, with the financial loss to livelihoods reaching far and wide.
We know the news that there is further funding, for those who were not previously eligible under previous government schemes, will be viewed as a lifeline to many.
We urge any who think they may be eligible to look at the details of the scheme and apply by the end of the month.
Please also remember that our colleagues at the New Anglia Growth Hub have developed a COVID-19 Business Toolkit and are available to provide free advice and guidance throughout Norfolk and Suffolk.”
It’s important potential applicants read the full criteria before applying.
Find out how to apply.
This funding has come from central government. See the guidance it issued on the grants.
- More articles in the news archive
- Norwich City Council news RSS feed
