In the past three weeks, over £23 million has been paid to 1,991 local businesses by the Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk since 31st March 2020.
In March the Government announced emergency Covid-19 support grants for business and the Chancellor set out a package of temporary and targeted measures to support public services and businesses through an unprecedented period of disruption caused by Covid-19.
James Wild MP welcomed this vital lifeline to businesses, public services and the community, saying: 'The government said they would support the British people at this time of uncertainty and concern, and I am pleased to see so many receiving that support already. I am grateful to the Borough Council for their commitment to the local business community, and their impressive hard work into distribute these critical grants so efficiently.'
There are two grant funding schemes administered by the local authority: (1) the Small Business Grant Fund; and (2) the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund. Cllr Graham Middleton, Cabinet Member for Business Development said: 'A total of 1,991 businesses have received the grant money direct into their accounts. Each grant is worth either £10,000 or £25,000. We hope that by getting these grants out quickly it will really help those businesses cope through these unprecedented times.'
Since the first grants were paid out on 31 March, the borough council has paid out £23,675,000, which represents over 57% of the amount of funding available for eligible businesses from the money allocated by the Government and officials want as much of the remaining amount as possible to be awarded before the end of the month.
Anyone that hasn't yet registered for a grant should go to the Borough Council website here: https://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/coronavirus. Click on the business assistance page to check your eligibility for a grant and complete the online verification form as soon as possible. Please fill out the form as comprehensively as possible, and the Council will do their best to distribute funds within 7 days of receiving your form.
Further information about support for businesses from the government is available by going to: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support.
