IF you missed out previously you can now check Tameside Council’s criteria to see if you are eligible to apply for funding to support any potential losses caused by the pandemic as small businesses in the borough.
This is available through round 3 of the Tameside Discretionary Grant Fund which is open to businesses and charities with yearly property costs of over £1000 and a loss of income due to the coronavirus of over 10%.
The next round is open to businesses from any sector (with a rateable value of £15K-£51K) as well as those eligible in the first two rounds that did not manage to apply on time.
This will be the final round for grant applications and it will open at 4pm on Tuesday 28 July until 5pm Thursday 13 August.
The fund was announced by the government in early May and is aimed at small businesses which did not qualify for the Small Business Grant (SBG) or the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (RHLG) because they were liable for business rates or failed to meet the other criteria.
Government guidance issued on 13 and 22 May has given Tameside Council some discretion when allocating grants, so they can be issued based on local insight and economic need.
Central government made £2.3m in funding available to the council for this scheme and the money will be used to support as many businesses as possible through mainly grant allocations of up to £10,000* (grants of £25,000 will be made only in exceptional circumstances).
To give all eligible businesses the opportunity to apply for the scheme, the council have allocated the funds in 3 rounds. There is approximately £1m of funding available from the original amount.
The timeline for round 3 of the scheme is:
- Applications open – 4pm Tuesday 28 July.
- Applications close – 5pm Thursday 13 August
- Payment of grants –19 August onwards
Cllr Oliver Ryan, Tameside Council Executive Member for Finance and Economic Growth, said: “Through this third and final discretionary grant round we can provide financial support for businesses not eligible for the Small Business Grant or the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant. Through funding like these grants, Tameside Council is committed to supporting businesses facing challenges caused by the coronavirus pandemic
“I encourage businesses to apply for the funding early so we can begin allocating this to those eligible. It is fantastic we can now open this opportunity up to those who missed out before as well as the business sectors meeting the criteria.”
Applications for the grant can be made online by visiting https://www.tameside.gov.uk/