A new fund of more than £650,000 to help support small businesses and charities affected by the coronavirus pandemic has been launched.

The local authority in Dartford is hoping to help those who did not qualify for the government's earlier schemes by giving them a one-off non-repayable cash injection.

Named the Dartford Discretionary Grant scheme, it is designed to be a "rapid response" for those affected, with applications opening today.

Business owners in the borough will have 14 days to apply for the grant from the £680,000 fund.

Regular market traders, Bed & Breakfasts which pay council tax rather than business rates, some charity properties and small businesses in shared offices will be prioritised for the cash injection.

To meet the criteria, firms must be small businesses defined by the Companies Act 2006, be trading on March 11, have ongoing fixed building related costs, and demonstrate they have suffered significant fall in income due to pandemic.

Council leader Jeremy Kite said:“This is no time to hold back. If we don’t get support out to our smaller businesses I’m afraid it’s likely that a number of them won’t be around when we all need them again.

"A failure of small businesses would be bad for employment, bad for competition, bad for customer service and bad for the ability of a characterful local economy to fight against a big multi-national one.

"We’ve already managed to pay approaching £12 million in business support grants to eligible firms in Dartford but this new fund is designed to help those smaller businesses and charities who are struggling with ongoing property costs.

"These firms could not apply for the government's initial grant funding criteria but we know it’s an exceptionally tough time so are pleased to create this new fund now.”

To apply, or for further information, go to https://www.dartford.gov.uk/discretionary-grant.

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