More than £30million in government grants has now been paid out to more than 2600 small businesses in North East Lincolnshire to help them through the COVID crisis.
Additionally, 154 businesses we successful in their application to the discretionary grants scheme and have received funds totalling £1.587million.
But there are a number of businesses who are still eligible to receive no-string-attached funds from government as part of the Small Business Grant scheme or the Retail, Leisure, Hospitality Grant scheme, despite being contacted directly by the council.
“The team has done an immense job so far to make sure the eligible businesses get the money quickly to help them through the COVID-19 crisis,” said Cllr Philip Jackson, Leader of the Council.
“But there’s a number of eligible businesses that haven’t yet contacted us, and we’d encourage them to do so quickly. We expect that Government will close the grant scheme at some point, and we’re doing what we can to contact the remaining businesses that haven’t been in touch, but if businesses take the initiative and contact us, they are likely to be able to receive the funds more quickly.”
As a reminder, grants of up to £25,000 are available for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors who have a business rating on their premises with rateable values of less than £51,000. Grants of £10,000 are available for all businesses in receipt of Small Business rate relief or Rural Rate relief. These grants will not need to be paid back. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-on-business-support-grant-funding
A simple online form needs to be submitted in the first instance – available on www.nelincs.gov.uk/coronavirus – in the “Business grants and support” section. The Council will then check eligibility and distribute grants as soon as it possibly can.
Cllr Jackson also issued a warning about potential fraud: “As part of the process, businesses need to submit specific information through the council’s website, which includes some financially sensitive information regarding the business. Businesses need to make sure that when they submit this information, they are doing it through the council’s website, not through any other resource. If there is any concern, businesses should contact either the E-Factor email or visit our website for more information in the first instance.”
If you aren’t sure about what other measures are available to help your business, or talk through options, email [email protected] in the first instance to arrange a call back from one of the advisors. Someone will call you back to discuss your queries, and make sure you find the information and support you need to make the decisions that are best for your business.
If you need additional general information about other council services, visit www.nelincs.gov.uk/coronavirus in the first instance.
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