STRATFORD District Council will once again be handing out business support grants to local companies facing temporary closure.
Eligible customer-facing businesses, which have been forced to close, will be able to receive grants worth up to £3,000 a month.
Payments are triggered by the national decision to close businesses across the country although more detailed guidance from the government is needed before payments can be made.
It is understood businesses based in premises with a rateable value up to £15,000 can claim £1,334 per month or £667 per two weeks of closure, while those in premises with rates from £15,000 up to £50,999, may claim £2,000 per month or £1,000 per two weeks.
Businesses in premises with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or above may claim £3,000 per month or £1,500 fortnightly.
As with other covid-19 business grants, local grants to closed businesses will be treated as taxable income.
Stratford district councillor Jo Barker said: “We will endeavour to get this much-needed funding to local businesses as quickly as possible so that as many local businesses as possible benefit from this national support.
“We are waiting to hear detail from the government on discretionary funding to help businesses that may slip through the gaps of this first wave of support funding.
“We know that this second lockdown is a really big ask, and the government has to provide support to those businesses being asked to close again in the District and across the country.”
Eligible businesses can apply online via www.stratford.gov.uk from next week.
