ELIGIBLE Tameside businesses are encouraged to apply for funding if they have been impacted by the pandemic.
The Government recently announced a new COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) and £3.7m of this is available in the borough.
The fund is available through Tameside Council to support businesses that have been affected by COVID-19 but are ineligible for existing business rates support.
Since CARF was launched, Tameside Council has been proactively encouraging businesses to apply through a variety of channels
CARF is a relief applied to a business rates account. The fund is not automatically awarded and businesses must apply online.
Exclusions
Businesses will not be eligible for this relief if they are:
- Receiving the Extended Retail Discount, Nursery Discount or Airport and Ground Operations Support Scheme (AGOSS)
- Not in occupation of the business property (unless they have been forced to close due to the Government’s advice on COVID-19)
- Not registered for business rates
- Already In receipt of full rates relief e.g. if their bill has been reduced to nil as small business rates relief has been applied.
Cllr Oliver Ryan, Tameside Council executive member for Finance and Economic Growth, said: “So many of our businesses have been severely impacted by the pandemic and we want to ensure eligible businesses have access to funding or relief as soon as it becomes available. I encourage all eligible businesses to get in touch with us as soon as possible as the COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund is only available for a limited time.”
For more information, and to apply for the COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund, please visit https://www.tameside.gov.uk/coronavirus/businessratesrecovery, applications are open until March 18.