Businesses urged to apply for Coronavirus support grants

Charnwood Borough Council is contacting businesses who haven’t applied for a grant.

They have distributed more than £19.2 million to over half of eligible businesses across the borough.

The Government has created two grant funds for businesses, one for those directly impacted from the hospitality, leisure and retail industry, and another for those that already receive business rate discounts.

Councillor Tom Barkley, deputy leader of the council and lead member for finance, said: “We know many businesses are struggling right now and want to make sure we issue every penny of government funding to those eligible.

“We’ve got teams of staff from across the council working to contact as many businesses as possible to encourage them to apply as we don’t want anyone left behind.

“I would urge all small business owners to see if they’re eligible and then to fill in our simple online form to claim the money that is rightfully theirs.”

The Council has issued grants to 1,525  businesses since April 1, but not all of the 2,768 companies entitled to support have come forward.

Council staff are now calling, emailing and writing to any business that hadn’t applied by the end of Sunday, 19 April, to encourage them to register and support them through the application process.

Grants of either £10,000 or £25,000 are available to businesses that already get rate relief or are in sectors most affected by the national lockdown – such as shops, restaurants, gyms, beauticians and estate agents.