MORE financial support is available for Stratford district businesses during lockdown
Stratford District Council has started making payments for the latest lockdown government support scheme this week.
Businesses which have applied for any recent business grants from the district council since November last year, do not need to complete another application form.
The council will make an automatic payment to these businesses using previously submitted details, credited to the bank account already provided.
Those which have not previously applied for any form of grant funding since November, can complete the application form on the council’s website.
To qualify, businesses must have occupied a property listed as liable for national non-domestic rates and have closed in line with the current restrictions January 6, which includes those open for delivery or takeaway services.
The new scheme, based on the rateable value of a closed business’s premises, is:
– £4,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or less.
– £6,000 for businesses with a rateable value of between £15,000 and £51,000.
– £9,000 for businesses with a rateable value of over £51,000.
This funding comes in addition to the existing Government business support schemes, including grants of up to £3,000 a month for closed businesses.
The grants, which do not need to be repaid by businesses, are part of a wider package of support measures put in place to help those struggling.
Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors have also been eligible for a 100 per cent business rates discount since April 1 2020. The relief applies until March 31.
The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) also continues until the end of April. Under the latest extension, workers will continue to receive payments equal to 80 per cent of their wage, while employers will only be required to pay wages, National Insurance Contributions (NICS) and pensions for hours worked, and NICS and pensions for hours not worked.
District councillor Jo Barker said: “This further financial support will continue to help businesses in the months ahead to help sustain jobs, so businesses can be ready to return when they are able to reopen.
“Payments will start to be made to businesses, which we know were closed during November and December, this week so there is no need to reapply if you have already applied for a grant. If you haven’t already applied, please do so as soon as possible.”
The district council has now paid over £6million covering just over 3,050 grants to businesses and is currently administering nine grant schemes from central government as part of its covid-19 support for businesses.
Visit www.stratford.gov.uk/coronavirus/local-restrictions-support-grant-national-lockdown.cfm for more details.
