News Don’t delay - apply today for business grant says MBC
Maidstone Borough Council has launched a new scheme to support small businesses and charities struggling to meet their fixed building related costs during Covid-19.
The new Local Authority Discretionary Grant scheme opens today Monday 18 May, and businesses will have 21 days until Monday 8 June to apply.
The scheme is primarily aimed at helping those businesses not eligible for other forms of government support, such as small businesses operating in a shared workspace, bed and breakfast businesses that pay Council Tax and local charities that have their offices within the borough.
This is not a loan, it’s a one-off non-repayable government cash grant.
The Council has received £1.4million in funding from Government to support businesses and expects grants to reflect the level of support needed, (each application will be considered according to need - capped at maximum of £10,000).
All applications will be verified and considered before any decisions are made, with grants paid from Monday 15 June.
Stephen McGinnes, Mid Kent Services Director at Maidstone Borough Council said:
“We appreciate this a very unsettling time for us all and for a business without an income it could be devastating. Therefore, we are doing everything we can to administer all government grants as quickly as possible.“If you are a business which meets these criteria please don’t delay in getting an application in to us. We are keen to get support out and for that reason have asked for all applications by 8 June.”
All businesses applying for the grant will need to meet the following criteria:
- Businesses with ongoing fixed building-related costs
- Businesses which can demonstrate that they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the Covid-19 crisis
- Small Businesses as defined by the Company Act 2006
- Businesses that were trading on 11th March
- Businesses which occupy property, or part of a property, with a rateable value or annual rent or annual mortgage payments below £51,000
If you do not meet these criteria please contact the Kent and Medway Business Support Team on 03333 602300 for further advice on available support.