ELIGIBLE businesses in Allerdale, Barrow, Carlisle, Copeland, Eden and South Lakeland that are affected by the government’s actions to stem the spread of coronavirus, can now apply for financial support through a cash grant scheme.
There are two grants available both of which are being administered by the district councils.
The first provides all businesses in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief with a grant of £10,000. The maximum rateable value limit is £15,000.
The second scheme provides support for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. These are:
- £10,000 for businesses with property with a rateable value of up to £15,000 (which do not receive small business rate relief or rural rate relief)
- £25,000 for businesses with property with a rateable value between £15,001 and £50,999.
Only one grant is payable per business property.
The council is doing everything it can to provide the funding to eligible businesses as soon as possible.
Therefore, any business that meets the criteria of the grant schemes and currently pays business rates via direct debit, will receive the grant directly into their named bank account. The business owner does not need to apply for the grant as the council already has enough information to provide it direct.
All other eligible businesses need to apply for the grant using the online application form.
Chief Executive of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, Rob Johnston said: “We’re concerned that some Cumbrian businesses could miss out on vital Coronavirus grants because they don’t know they have to apply.
“When the Government announced these grants, they said that eligible businesses would receive the money automatically – there was no need to apply. We’ve now learned this is not the case.
“In Cumbria, district councils are administering these grants and five of our six districts are asking businesses to apply for the grants online.
“Their reasoning is that they don’t hold the bank details of every eligible business, so they need you to apply.
“Carlisle is taking a different approach, writing directly to eligible businesses.
“If you’re entitled to these grants, and you’re in Allerdale, Barrow, Copeland, Eden or South Lakeland, you must complete an online form.
“If you’re in Carlisle, look out for the letter sent to your business premises.”
Here are the links to application information for each Cumbrian district for:
Mr Johnston added: “It would be a tragedy if businesses were to miss out on these grants simply because they aren’t aware that they to fill in a form.”
He is also urging businesses to completed the Chambers Coronavirus survey – which you can do via this link here.
He added: “We’re using the information gathered to tailor our services and feed intelligence to the British Chambers of Commerce.
“And do keep checking our Coronavirus toolkit, which is updated several times a day with the latest information (access via this link here).
“The Chamber is also lobbying through the British Chambers for improvements to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan scheme, which provides loans of up to £5m, interest-free for the first 12 months.
“We know some businesses have had difficulty accessing these loans.
“That’s partly due to the way the scheme is set up. Lenders are required to lend on normal commercial terms if they can and turn to the scheme only when they cannot.
“Even then, you must have a proposal the lender would consider viable, were it not for Coronavirus, and it must have confidence that the loan will enable you to trade out of short-to-medium term difficulties.
“There are 40 lenders offering these loans. Our toolkit has details of the lending criteria for all of them. If your business has been turned down by one lender, it might be worth approaching one of the others.
“Although our office has closed for the time being, our staff continue to work from home so do get in touch if we can be of assistance.”
An Allerdale Council spokesperson said: “While the actions taken by the government are necessary to combat the spread of coronavirus, we would encourage members of the business community who are being hit financially, and are eligible for the grants, to apply. We have a dedicated team who are doing everything they possibly can to ensure this money gets paid out as soon as possible.”
