Grants available for Covid-hit firms

NORTH Hampshire businesses that have been forced to close as a result of the latest Covid-19 national restrictions can apply for grant funding from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Grants of up to £1,334 per month are available for businesses with a rateable value of up to £15,000, grants of up to £2,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 to £50,999 and £3,000 per month for properties with a rateable value of £51,000 and above.

To access the funding, businesses will need to provide further details to confirm their eligibility for a grant, as well as their payment details, by completing a form online.

Following the completion of the online form, grants will usually be paid to eligible businesses within two to three working days.

Alongside this government support, the council is finalising a new discretionary grant scheme to support businesses that are not eligible for other grant funding and have had to close or have been severely impacted by the new restrictions.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s cabinet member for finance and service improvement Hannah Golding said: “I am pleased we have received further guidance from government and are able to provide this vital support to businesses who have been affected by the latest restrictions.

“We know this is a difficult time for the businesses affected by the latest national restrictions, on top of an already challenging year, so we will be paying these grants to all eligible businesses as soon as possible.”

For more information and to access the online form, visit www.basingstoke.gov.uk/local-restrictions-support-grant