NHDC launches discretionary business grant scheme

PR Date: Monday, 1 June 2020 - 10:00am

North Herts District Council (NHDC) has launched its discretionary business grant scheme after being given the go ahead to use £1.4 million of central government funding to support smaller local businesses.

This scheme is aimed at supporting small businesses that did not qualify under any of the national schemes that were announced at the end of March. Businesses may be eligible if they meet one or more of the following criteria:

•  can demonstrate they have suffered a significant fall in income because of the Covid-19 crisis

•  have relatively high ongoing fixed property-related costs

•  occupy property, or part of a property, with a rateable value or annual rent or annual mortgage payments below £51,000.   

Businesses must have been trading on 11 March 2020 to be eligible for the scheme.

To ensure that all eligible businesses have a fair chance of applying, the Council is operating an application window from Monday 1 June 2020 to 17.00 on Friday 19 June 2020. After the closing date, the Council will assess the number of eligible applications and distribute the available funding accordingly. 

Executive Member for Finance & IT, Councillor Ian Albert welcomed the new scheme. He said “Our scheme allows for three possible tiers of grant payment – any amount under £10,000, a £10,000 grant or even a £25,000 grant in a few cases. It’s up to us as a local Council to assess applications within the rules and priorities but also take into account the number of applications received overall. For that reason we expect the vast majority of awards to be £10,000 or less.

"By giving a three week window for applications, we're ensuring that help can be made available to the maximum number of small local businesses affected by COVID-19. We certainly encourage any small businesses who think they might be eligible to apply.”

Executive Member for Enterprise & Co-Operative Development, Councillor Keith Hoskins said: “We know there are businesses in North Herts that have not been eligible for any Government assistance so far. We've been tasked with looking at using this funding for a range of small businesses. This includes from those in shared offices or flexible workspaces or regular market traders with fixed building costs but who probably don't have their own business rates assessment. In addition, Bed & Breakfasts which pay Council Tax instead of business rates and Charity properties in receipt of business rates relief may also be eligible.

"Our fund will potentially enable these kinds of local businesses and others to claim support during this incredibly tough period."

For full details of the Local Authority Discretionary Grants Fund and to apply, visit: www.north-herts.gov.uk/business-support