Small businesses urged to apply for coronavirus support funding

Small businesses in Daventry District are encouraged to apply for grants of up to £10,000 in the latest round of Government funding aimed at easing the impact of Covid-19.

Daventry District Council (DDC) is inviting small businesses that were not eligible for the Government’s other coronavirus support schemes to make applications to the new Discretionary Grant Fund.

The funding is aimed at businesses with under 50 employees that have seen a significant drop in income due to coronavirus, such as those in shared offices or other flexible workspaces, bed and breakfasts which pay Council Tax instead of Business Rates, some eligible charity properties and those who spend less than £51,000 a year renting or mortgaging a property.

The deadline for applications to the Council is the end of Sunday, 14 June 2020 and businesses can check the eligibility criteria and apply online via the DDC website at https://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/your-council/news/advice-on-coronavirus/businesses/discretionary-grant-fund/

DDC has already distributed £13.41m of Government funding to 1,138 local businesses during the coronavirus pandemic – including grants for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses, plus a series of small business rate relief grants.

Councillor Colin Morgan, Resource Portfolio Holder at Daventry District Council said: "Our staff have been working hard to ensure that local businesses receive the Government funding support that they are entitled to during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"The Discretionary Grant Fund is aimed at those small businesses struggling significantly during these difficult times that aren’t eligible for the other government grant support schemes. I would urge any small local businesses who think they may qualify to visit our website to check the criteria and then apply online."