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Some 130 firms affected by coronavirus have received discretionary grants through Swale council.
The authority distributed more than £1 million to micro and small business in specific sectors, including retail, leisure and hospitality, that did not qualify for government funding when lockdown began.
Cllr Monique Bonney (Ind), cabinet member for economy and property at the council, said: “We had 291 businesses apply and approached the assessment of each application in a fair and consistent way to make sure as many businesses as possible could benefit.
“With the remaining money left in the discretionary grants pot, we will be widening the criteria to include more firms that support our visitor economy, who weren’t eligible in the first round.”
Government guidance asked the council to prioritise grants for small businesses in shared premises such as industrial parks or market traders which do not have their own business rates assessment and B&Bs that pay council tax instead of business rates.
For more visit swale.gov.uk/advice-for-businesses.
