Council given £1.6million to support more businesses

An extra £1.6 million has been allocated to Charnwood Borough Council to support local businesses who have struggled to access coronavirus grants.

Funding has been awarded to all councils to provide additional top up grants to small businesses who have so far been ineligible for government funding.

Grants are for companies employing fewer than 50 people who have been impacted by the pandemic and have building costs such as rent.

Councils have the discretion to introduce their own eligibility criteria, the council says it's now working to ensure the local scheme supports as many businesses as possible.

To date Charnwood has issued £28.7 million in government business grants.

The Borough Council says details of the finalised top up grant scheme will be published as soon as possible, along with eligibility criteria and how to apply.