New grants of up to £3,000 are being offered to Gravesham business to help them ride out Covid-19 restrictions.

Gravesham Borough Council has opened applications for the latest round of grants designed to help businesses survive enforced closure and limited trade brought about by the recent lockdown.

Under the Additional Restrictions Grant (Discretionary) scheme, local businesses and charitable organisations that are either not registered for Business Rates and have been required to close during lockdown between November 5 and December 2, or who are able to show they have been severely impacted during the same period, could qualify for grants of between £500 and £3,000.

These are in addition to the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) scheme which, since it opened on November 13, has seen Gravesham Borough Council support more than 280 businesses with grants totalling £435,000.

Cllr John Burden, Leader of Gravesham Borough Council, said: “One of the strengths of Gravesham‘s economy is our fantastic network of independent traders. Unfortunately they are often the most poorly placed to survive long periods of enforced closure or reduced custom because of lockdown.

“Throughout the pandemic, our aim has been to get the various support grants out to our businesses as quickly and with as little fuss and admin as possible, which is what we will be doing with this latest round of funding.

“We are working to understand the implications of financial support for businesses in the new Tier 3, are awaiting further government guidance on this and will be in contact with businesses to confirm arrangements once these are known."

Details of support available to local businesses are available via https://www.gravesham.gov.uk/home/business/covid-19-guidance-for-businesses/overview/_nocache

Applications for the Additional Restrictions Grant (Discretionary) scheme are open until 12 noon on Wednesday December 16.

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