Council widens scope for grant applications

Bradford Council has announced that it has widened the scope of its latest round of applications for the £6.8m Discretionary Grant Fund for businesses affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The second round of funding was announced earlier this month and included small manufacturers, suppliers to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, enterprise centres and local charities and childcare providers who have not received a business support grant. This round of funding has now been expanded to include applications from home based businesses.

In order to qualify the home based business must not be eligible for the Government’s Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) and the focus will remain on small and micro businesses and charities with fixed property costs who have suffered a significant impact on their income due to pandemic

Grant amounts for home based businesses will be determined based on the funding available after all other grants have been. Full details of the criteria and the online application form are available on the council’s website, with a closing date of Friday 28 August.

Applications received under Round One of the Discretionary Grant Fund will also be reappraised under the new criteria.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “We are continuing to do everything we can to support local businesses during this incredibly difficult time.

“Expanding this second round of applications for the Discretionary Grants to home based workers means that we can support a wider range of businesses that have been impacted by Covid-19.

“Due to the government’s deadline it is important those who are interested apply as soon as possible.”

To apply for local Covid-19 business support grants and find out further information, visit www.bradford.gov.uk/businessgrants.