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Council processes over £2.7million of Discretionary Grants for businesses in need

Published: Friday, 10th July 2020

Birmingham City Council is pleased to report it has paid out over £2.7million of Discretionary Business Grants to struggling businesses.

Small businesses that have suffered financial hardship due to COVID-19 were given the opportunity to apply for discretionary grant funding of up to £25,000.

To date the Council has so far processed 1,100 applications and approved grants totalling just over £2.7millon to 651 businesses. Teams are currently working on processing the final batch of applications. 

Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said:

"We're working hard to get this much needed help out to Birmingham businesses as quickly as possible to protect jobs and livelihoods. We've already approved grants for hundreds of businesses across the city and our teams are now processing the last batch of applications.

"I appreciate that this continues to be an incredibly challenging time for businesses, meaning that demand is high for the discretionary grant fund. But some applications take longer to process than others and I would urge businesses to please bear with us. We are dealing with the remaining applications as quickly as possible."

Priority has been given to small businesses in shared offices or other flexible spaces, such as units in industrial parks; regular market traders who do not have their own business rate assessment and bed and breakfasts, which pay council tax instead of business rates. 

The Council’s teams are currently reviewing the remaining applications and will be in contact with businesses who have not yet been advised of the outcome of their application.  

Businesses are advised that they will be emailed by 20 July 2020.  If you are asked to submit information in support of your application, please ensure that you respond quickly and that you address the request fully to avoid delays.

Like the Small Business and Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants, the money paid to businesses does not have to be repaid and can be used by the business to cover ongoing fixed property related costs.

Further information on the grants can be read on the website.

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