BUSINESSES in Leicester have until August 28 to take advantage of financial help which has been made available to firms affected by COVID-19.
Leicester City Council is responsible for distributing two sources of business support funding aimed at small and micro businesses whose trade has been affected by the coronavirus lockdown.
The Extended Local Lockdown grant scheme means £2.6million of Government money has been made available to help small and micro businesses in the city which had experienced an enforced period of closure during the extended lockdown which was put in place on June 30.
These are generally non-essential retail, hospitality and leisure businesses.
In addition, the third round of Discretionary Grant Funding has also been launched, offering financial help to more small and micro businesses which are struggling to survive due to a significant loss of income and on-going fixed property costs.
This latest Discretionary Grant Funding is available to businesses in properties with a rateable value of £51,000 and above, which are in receipt of expanded retail discount. This includes businesses such as larger restaurants, pubs and shops, opticians and nightclubs.
It is also available for properties with a rateable value of up to and including £15,000, which are not in receipt of expanded retail discount or small business rate relief, and so have not yet received a business grant. This includes small industrial units, workshops and smaller shops, typically where the business occupies two or more premises.
The two schemes are the latest in a series of measures to help city businesses to recover from the loss of trade caused by the lockdown restrictions. The closing date for both schemes is August 28.
The much larger Small Business Grant and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant schemes, launched back in April, paid £71million of grants to more than 6,000 businesses and charities across the city. These schemes closed to new claims on Friday, August 14.
Full details of all business support are available at www.leicester.gov.uk/coronavirus
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