We’re contacting 700 businesses to make sure they get business support grants
Published: Friday, 1 May, 2020
Stroud District Council’s Revenues & Benefits service has written to more than 700 businesses in the district to urge them to apply for a business grant.
So far Stroud District Council has distributed £21.46 million in business grants to 1,920 accounts.
However, SDC’s Revenues & Benefits service has contacted a further 708 businesses it believes are eligible for a grant, but have not yet applied. So far, 1,920 businesses accounts which SDC has correct bank details for have been paid but 708 businesses remain.
“There are a number of reasons why these 708 businesses may not have applied for a grant already,” explained SDC’s Revenue and Benefits manager Simon Killen.
“They may simply believe they are not eligible, or they may have temporarily closed down as a response to the Coronavirus pandemic and think that means they cannot claim.
“If you run a business and have received a letter or email from us, please register on our portal. We’ll make the necessary checks and make a payment if your business is eligible.”
Cllr Doina Cornell, leader of Stroud District Council said:
“Making sure that businesses receive the financial help they are entitled to is very important to us. We’re delighted to have paid so many businesses so far, and will continue to make payments to all eligible businesses.”
Every eligible business that SDC holds the bank details for has now been paid. In other cases, businesses will need to submit their bank details. The easiest way to do this is through the online portal: www.stroud.gov.uk/business/business-rates
The two business grant schemes are:
Scheme 1 – Business Support Grants Fund
Properties in receipt of rural rate relief or small business rates relief on 11th March, including those in receipt of tapered relief, will be eligible for a grant payment of £10,000.
Scheme 2 – Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Business Grants Fund
Businesses in receipt of the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers retail, hospitality and leisure) with a rateable value of less than £51,000 will be eligible for the following cash grants per property.
For eligible businesses occupying properties with rateable values of:
£15,000 or less on 11 March 2020 the grant is £10,000
£15,001 and £51,000 on 11 March 2020 the grant is £25,000.
The county’s emergency response to covid-19 is being coordinated and delivered by a range of partners across the county, including NHS, county and district councils, police, hospitals, fire and rescue and south west ambulance service.