Just days left for firms to claim crisis cash

THERE are just a few days left for small businesses affected by the Covid- 19 crisis to apply for support from a new scheme.

The Government has made £877,750 additional funding available to Rossendale council through the Discretionary Grants for Small Businesses scheme.

The scheme was formally launched on the council’s news page on June 15, but the deadline for applications is this Sunday, June 21.

Small and micro businesses across the borough who did not receive help through the initial Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Fund, are targeted by this scheme.

The council said that they are inviting applications to determine the number of businesses that are eligible for the scheme, subject to meeting the criteria.

Their statement said: “We aim to award grants of £ 25,000, £ 10,000 or between £500 and £10,000 but this will depend on the number of applications received.

“It is anticipated that grants will be primarily £ 10k or lower in order to maximise potential qualifiers.

“The scheme is designed to pay businesses as quickly as is possible but also to avoid paying out grants on a ‘ first come, first served’ basis.

“This is particularly important given the fixed amount of funding available.”

If after the assessment process there is still funding remaining the council says it will consider applications received after June 21.

The application form can be found at rossendale. gov. uk and searching for ‘ Discretionary grants for small’.