Wyre council launches grants for businesses which missed out on Government coronavirus aid so far

Wyre Council has followed Blackpool, Fylde and Preston in launching a new discretionary grant scheme to help businesses affected by coronavirus.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The scheme is aimed at small and micro businesses and charities in the borough.

In recognition that some businesses did not benefit from the Small Business Grant Fund and the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Grant Fund, the Government has made available funds of £1,596,500 to Wyre Council to provide a Discretionary Business Grant scheme.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Only businesses which were trading and in occupation of premises on March 11, 2020, are eligible to apply for funding under this scheme.

Businesses in Wyre will, like those in Blackpool Fylde and Preston, be able to make a claim for a discretionary grant if they have missed out on Government coronavirus aid so farBusinesses in Wyre will, like those in Blackpool Fylde and Preston, be able to make a claim for a discretionary grant if they have missed out on Government coronavirus aid so far
Businesses in Wyre will, like those in Blackpool Fylde and Preston, be able to make a claim for a discretionary grant if they have missed out on Government coronavirus aid so far

It aims to help small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces such as industrial parks, science parks and incubators, which do not have their own business rates assessment.

It can also help short term holiday lets and B&B’s that pay domestic council tax instead of business rates.

Other’s eligible include locally based charity properties receiving charitable business rate relief that would otherwise be eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Regular market traders too, who live in the borough area, who do not have their own business rates assessment with fixed building costs.

Businesses who have applied for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme are eligible to apply for this scheme.

The business must have relatively high ongoing fixed property-related costs and be able to demonstrate a significant fall in income due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Business must have fewer than 50 employees and a rateable value of less than £51,000 and must have been trading on March 11.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Councillor Alan Vincent, deputy leader said: “We are really pleased to be able to open up our business grant funding to further businesses across the borough.

“So far we have paid over £26m in grant funding to businesses and this new scheme will further support Wyre’s economy.”

Preston’s discretionary grant details can be had from www.preston.gov.uk/discretionarygrantsfund

Councillor Matthew Brown, leader of Preston City Council, said: “Businesses continue to feel the impact of coronavirus and many have unfortunately missed out on previous schemes. This new grant will help provide some much needed funds.”