News Businesses being urged to claim government grants
Maidstone Borough Council is urging all local businesses that qualify for the government grants of £10,000 or £25,000 for help during the Coronavirus Pandemic, to apply now.
In total £28 million is due to be awarded to local businesses in the Maidstone Borough who meet the criteria, with £8.5 million having already been claimed.
Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with a rateable value over £15,000 and under £51,000 will receive a cash grant of £25,000. Around 425 businesses in Maidstone qualify for the grant.
Businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with a rateable value of £15,000 or under will receive a cash payment of £10,000.
All businesses in receipt of small business rates relief and rural rate relief – regardless of sector – will be eligible for a cash payment of £10,000. Around 1,800 businesses in the borough qualify for these £10,000 grants.
The Council has written out to all those that qualify, setting out what they need to do to set up payment details for the grant. However, due to the current lockdown situation, there is a concern that many businesses may not have seen the invitation and may be missing out on vital support.
Stephen McGinnes, Director of Mid Kent Services at Maidstone Borough Council said:
“Many of our small businesses that qualify for these grants are still to apply and we are keen to ensure all small businesses that qualify receive them as soon as possible. We can only contact them using the details they have previously provided us with so we are urging them to check their mail and claim the money they are entitled to.“We have already issued revised business rates bills to all local businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors who will now pay no business rates in 2020-21. Helping to ease the burden on them.
“However, there remains this huge amount of money currently unclaimed and we want to make sure that our small businesses benefit from this grant as soon as possible. We are currently processing the 660 applications we have already received and will be issuing the grants for these as soon as possible.”
For more information on the Grants scheme please visit the business in maidstone website
Should businesses have any questions regarding the support that could be available to them or have not received a letter by 5 April they need to email the business support team at covid19business@maidstone.gov.uk.