New support grant launched for Northumberland businesses

More businesses in Northumberland are set to be supported by a new grant aimed at helping them deal with the impacts of Covid-19.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available, depending on the value of business rates, for those which have not been able to be supported by previous schemes.

Northumberland County Council has launched the ‘Business Resilience Grant’ for enterprises which have remained open but are facing a significant reduction in footfall, trading restrictions or supply chain disruption.

The grant will be available to businesses which are liable for business rates, have not already received Local Restriction Support Grants or Additional Restriction Grants, and which continue to have on-going commercial fixed property costs.

Councillor Nick Oliver, cabinet member responsible for corporate resources at Northumberland County Council said: “We have been acutely aware that there are many businesses which have fixed commercial property costs and have been badly impacted by the restrictions, but which haven’t been able to access the existing range of grants.

“We have looked closely at what we might be able to achieve with the finite resources we have available, and are pleased to be able to launch this new grant today.

“Even with this new grant, we know that we are still not able to support every business.  However business owners can be assured that we are doing everything we can to provide the best support from the funding available, and we also continue to lobby for more support from Government.

“To date we have paid out over £40million in support grants to businesses across Northumberland since last November and we hope that these are going some way to getting them through this most difficult of times.”

The Business Resilience Grant is scheduled to run until Wednesday 31 March 2021, however business owners are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as there is a limited amount of funding available within the scheme.

To apply you must be based in Northumberland, have been trading on 18 September 2020, have not already received support through the Local Restriction Support Grants or Additional Restriction Grant and be able to demonstrate both a minimum of £200 a month of ongoing commercial property costs and that you have been severely impacted by Covid-19 restrictions.

Home based businesses operating from domestic properties or who are unable to show that they occupy commercial property and have ongoing fixed costs relating to that property will not be eligible for the grant.

Businesses can submit an application for each eligible business property that they operate from within Northumberland.  

For full details go to www.northumberland.gov.uk/businessgrants