Eastbourne businesses can apply for latest funding

Eastbourne council is processing applications from small and micro businesses for grants of up to £10,000 from the government’s latest Covid-19 business support scheme.

The council has received a £1.1million funding allocation and is accepting applications from qualifying businesses until June 19.

In exceptional circumstances £25,000 grants will be considered.

All payments will be made once the window for applications closes.

Council leader David Tutt said, “Our officers have worked very quickly to get this latest funding scheme up and running.

“The funding pot we’ve received from government is limited and so businesses must get their application in as soon as possible. I know how tough life is for many businesses, so I hope as many as possible can take advantage of this scheme.”

The government has set eligibility criteria for the scheme.

Councils have been told to prioritise businesses with fixed property-related costs which can demonstrate that they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

This includes small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces; regular market traders with fixed building costs, such as rent, who do not have their own business rates assessment; B&Bs and guest houses which pay council tax instead of business rates and charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief which would otherwise have been eligible for Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief.

While each scheme is unique to local economic and business need, the council says it has worked closely with neighbouring councils in East Sussex to develop the funding framework.

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