Lord Street in Southport

Businesses in Southport are being urged to make the most of a final call for a Discretionary Business Grant, after the fund was today reopened by Sefton Council. 

The fund has already paid out over £1.3 m to businesses and a short application window will be made available to support struggling Sefton businesses who have fixed property costs that can be evidenced by a commercial lease, commercial rent or commercial mortgage agreement or other commercial property related costs such as business insurance.

The fund is open on a first come first serve basis to new applications from the 3rd August with the window closing at 11am on 26th August or until all funds are exhausted. This is to allow time to ensure all approved payments can be met by the Government deadline. 

The Government has asked local authorities to give priority to groups of small businesses that were unable to access the Small Business Grant and Retail, Leisure and Hospitality grant schemes. These include charities in receipt of charity rate relief, B&Bs which pay council tax, businesses in shared workspaces and regular market traders. Other small businesses, not in these highlighted groups, will also be welcome to apply where eligibility is met.

The Council has extended the scheme to certain businesses operating in commercial premises who have a rateable value of £51,000 or a commercial rental or mortgage agreement which is more than £51,000. (businesses who employ more than 50 staff are ineligible, as well as large national chains or their subsidiaries).

To support the grant process, rigorous checks are being undertaken to ensure businesses meet the eligibility criteria.  Applicants are urged to read the application guidance before applying and to ensure they provide all the required supporting information to avoid unnecessary delays with approval.

Businesses can apply online at https://www.sefton.gov.uk/business/business-rates/covid-19-business-support-for-202021.aspx

The final date to submit an application for a Small Business Grant or a Retail, Leisure & Hospitality Grants will be 16th August 2020. Businesses can apply online at https://forms.sefton.gov.uk/covid19businessform/

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