New discretionary grants available for local businesses not previously covered by earlier schemes
Applications are now OPEN for the Rochford District Discretionary Business Grant Scheme. The Council has been allocated £900,000 in government funding to support specific businesses and charities who have been impacted by COVID-19, but were not eligible for either the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund or the Small Business Grant Fund.
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The Council will prioritise which types of businesses will receive funding and determine the level of award taking account of the level of income reduction due to COVID-19 and the size of the business.
Grants of up to £10,000 are available for local businesses who are urged to apply before the scheme ends at midnight on Sunday 14th June 2020, with applicants needing to meet the specified eligibility criteria.
This grant funding is for businesses that are not eligible for other support schemes, with the exception of the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Businesses which have received cash grants from any other central Government COVID-19 related scheme are ineligible for funding from the Discretionary Grants Fund.
Rochford District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Enterprise, Cllr Simon Wootton said: “We very much want to support our local businesses who continue to struggle through this period of uncertainty.
“We want to ensure the District continues to have a thriving economy and hope that the Discretionary Grants Fund will help those businesses previously ineligible to claim support, benefit from this extra financial assistance.
As small and micro-businesses make up the vast majority of the local economy, we will be looking to award the majority of grants at a level up to £10,000, in order to ensure as many local firms as possible can benefit from the limited funding pot”.
Grants of up to £10,000 are available, with the majority of awards between the levels of £2,000 and £5,000.
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