Last chance to apply for a business grant in Northumberland

This is the last week that small businesses and retail, hospitality or leisure businesses can apply to Northumberland County Council for support grants made available by the Government in response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

 

To date, the Council has awarded £89.415 million in grant payments to 7,858 local businesses, and any eligible business which has not yet applied has until midnight on Friday 28 August 2020 to do so.

 

Two types of grants remain open to applications:

 

Small Business Grant Fund For local businesses which usually receive Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief may qualify for the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) of £10,000.

 

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund For retail, hospitality or leisure businesses may qualify for a grant of £10,000 (if their rateable value is below £15,000), or a grant of £25,000 (if their rateable value is between £15,001 and £51,000), under the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund (RHLGF).

 

Cllr Peter Jackson, leader of Northumberland County Council said:  “We are still paying out small business grants and urge any businesses that have not been in touch yet to contact us before the scheme closes on Friday 28 August.

 

“These grants have been vital to our local economy – helping ensure the survival of shops, cafes, hotels, restaurants and many other businesses.

 

“Since April this year, the Council has contacted eligible small businesses to advise them of these supplementary grants and our finance team is now in the final stages of assessing applications and awarding payments.

 

“If you think your business is eligible for a grant, I urge you to apply online via the Council’s website as soon as possible.”

 

The Council is also still processing applications for a third scheme, the Covid-19 Discretionary Grants Fund, which was also launched by the Council at the beginning of June.

 

This has enabled the Council to award discretionary grants of up to £25,000 to a range of different types of business.  Applications are still open for applications from Hotels and pubs with a premises rateable value exceeding £51,000; certain leisure and tourism businesses, charities and community facilities.

 

For full details of eligibility for all of these funds visit www.northumberland.gov.uk/businesshub