WARRINGTON Borough Council has started making vital payments to help local businesses through the Coronavirus COVID-19 crisis.
The council has been gearing up to make sure Warrington businesses can receive the grants and relief they so urgently need, as soon as possible. Following the release of grant funding by the government to local authorities in England, to support their local businesses, the council is taking steps to ensure this reaches local businesses quickly.
Companies across the borough are now receiving the Small Business Grant and Cash Grant for Retail, Hospitality & Leisure. This is providing a one-off grant of either £10,000 or £25,000 for eligible businesses to help meet their ongoing operational costs. In addition, all Warrington premises who qualify for the Expanded Retail Discount – which provides 100% business rates relief – have been notified by the council of the amount of the discount. Full confirmation will be with all businesses by the end of the week.
The total relief package for Warrington businesses totals £69m – made up of £33m of Expanded Retail Discount transferred to Business Rates accounts, and £36m of grant payments. Businesses who have not done so are being urged to connect with the council through the online form at https://www.warrington.gov.uk/grants-small-businesses-coronavirus-update. This will allow businesses to provide bank details and access the latest information as soon as it is available.
Warrington Borough Council Leader, Cllr Russ Bowden, said: “We are absolutely committed to doing all we can to protect every Warrington business affected by the COVID-19 crisis. We are working pro-actively with partners to provide round-the-clock support and ensure every penny of available funding gets to our businesses as quickly as possible. I’m delighted that this process is underway and that businesses across Warrington are now receiving the funding and relief they so desperately need. We will be continuing to work with you to help you through this difficult time.”
Cllr Tom Jennings, Chair of the Supporting the Local Economy Committee, said: “We know how vital it is that we offer maximum support to our business community during these unprecedented times. That’s why we’ve been working hard to put everything in place to minimise any delays in businesses receiving this support. I hope the grants which are now being issued, along with business rate relief, make a real difference to local businesses. I want to assure you that we are working as fast as possible to issue all grants, with our team working tirelessly to process company data, and our contact centre being well utilised to provide support and advice throughout this period.”
The council is also working with the Cheshire & Warrington Business Growth Hub who have a variety of practical services to help you through these challenging times. Whether you are self-employed, own a business or were planning to before the Coronavirus outbreak, you can get a range of help by visiting:
• warrington.gov.uk/coronavirusgrant
For the latest information on coronavirus in Warrington, please visit warrington.gov.uk/coronavirus
