Small businesses to share in £25m pot

Stafford Borough Council announced that grants between £10,000 and £25,000 would be paid directly to more than 2,000 businesses in the area.

The council will be distributing the government-backed grants of up to £25,000 for businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors with rateable values between £15,000 and £51,000. And grants of £10,000 will be available for those entitled to small business rate relief.

The local authority will be making direct payments using bank details from business rates payments. But those who do not pay direct debits will need to fill in an online form at staffordbc.gov.uk/financial-support-businesses-and-employers

Councillor Mike Smith, cabinet member for resources at the borough council, said: “These are extremely tough times for our businesses and this money may be the difference between them surviving or going under and vital to protecting jobs

“We will also be ringing many of these businesses, encouraging them to provide us with the details we need, because we don’t want them to miss out on this money.”

The council has already set up a webpage staffordbc.gov.uk/business-support-coronavirus where local companies can find out about more grants that may be available to them.

Councillor Smith added: “If you are not eligible to receive this money then please check out our website and contact our Economic Growth team who will do everything they can to help you find other grant funding.”

The council will also be processing a 100 per cent business rate relief for all businesses in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors for 2020/21 - with new bills issued as soon as possible.

Local businesses looking for help and support can find up to date information at staffordbc.gov.uk/business-support-coronavirus