West Suffolk small businesses to receive grants totalling £3.82 million

Hundreds of small businesses in West Suffolk hit by the coronavirus crisis are due to receive grants totalling £3.82 million.

West Suffolk Council says 382 businesses have so far signed up for the Small Business Grant Fund with the first payments to be made from tomorrow.

The authority has contacted 1,600 businesses eligible for the grant and there remains another 700 which the council is trying to speak to.

It has also awarded £34.7 million in business rate relief.

Phone calls to the business owners of more than 650 properties eligible for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Fund will begin on Monday.

Eligible businesses will receive grants of £10,000 or £25,000 depending on their rateable value.

Cllr John Griffiths, leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “We appreciate that businesses are anxious to get this support as quickly as possible.

"We have made getting this grant and rate relief support to businesses a priority.

"The £3.82m that we are paying to small businesses this Friday is just the start. We have many more that we have contacted and are in the process of sending back their forms. We will be processing these payments daily.

"There are also around 700 businesses that we believe are eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund that we are continuing to do all that we can to contact.

“Next week will see our staff begin making calls to businesses that are eligible for the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure grant.

"We have already been carrying out the preparation work this week to ensure that we are offering the right level of grant support to each business.

"Of course, as a council we have had to make some tough decisions on the work that we prioritise to support businesses, communities and essential services, and of course our own staff, and I would like to thank everyone for their understanding.

"We are all in this together, we are working to support people through this nightmare, and we will come through this challenge.”

The council has set up a webpage which it is regularly updating, directing businesses to the various support that is available.

It also includes contact details for the economic development team should business need advice.

Visit www.westsuffolk.gov.uk/c19business

Are you a recipient of the Small Business Grant Fund? If so the Bury Free Press would like to hear from you. Email news@buryfreepress.co.uk