Coronavirus: Last chance to apply for Covid-19 business grants

Shropshire businesses with a rateable value of less than £51,000 have just over two weeks left to apply for a Government grant to support them through the Covid-19 pandemic. Applications close on Friday 14 August.

Businesses in receipt of small business rate relief may qualify for a small business grant of £10,000. Business with a rateable value of less than £51,000 that qualify for the enhanced retail, hospitality and leisure relief may qualify for a grant of either £10,000 or £25,000 depending on their rateable value.

The scheme – which opened in early April – has so far benefited over 6,685 of the county’s businesses and provided £79 million of grants into Shropshire’s economy, helping businesses to continue in their premises, re-open to the public and replenish their stocks.

Analysis of those awarded grants so far show that the distribution of money has been spread equally across the county, with businesses in the north, south and around Shrewsbury all accessing the government funding on offer.

However, there is still funding left that can be awarded so Shropshire Council is encouraging more businesses to check their business rate bills and and apply before it is too late.

The Secretary of State for business has now written to all local authorities to say that any outstanding grants need to have been paid by the end of August 2020 and the scheme wound up. This means that any businesses who receive a business rates bill from Shropshire Council with a rateable value of less than £51,000 and in receipt of a qualifying business rate relief need to consider applying to the scheme via the council website as soon as possible.

Steve Charmley, deputy Leader of Shropshire Council and Cabinet member for assets, economic growth and regeneration said:

“We have many smaller businesses in the county with a rateable value of less than £15,000 that qualify for small business rate relief. Many of these will not pay business rates at all but they can still qualify for the small business grant.

“These businesses can apply to the scheme for £10,000 grant and while most schemes are competitive, this one is not. As long as you are eligible for small business rate relief you will most likely qualify for a small business grant.”

David Minnery, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for finance and corporate support, said:

“This is the last push as the scheme will close to applications on Friday 14 August so we want to ensure all our businesses that qualify have applied to receive the grant.

“Our teams have worked hard to process as many applications that we know of from our rating lists, and from applications so far but we still believe there are businesses who have still not applied – and we don’t want businesses to miss out on this funding”

Details of the main COVID-19 grant schemes can be found on the Shropshire Council website.