New discretionary grants available for local businesses

discretionary grant funding king's lynn james wild mp

New discretionary grants for local businesses affected by COVID-19 are now available.

These grants are to be paid from funding made available to the Borough Council by the government. Read more about how to apply here. 

James Wild MP, said - 

While thousands of local firms have been helped with earlier grants or business rate holidays some firms have fallen through the cracks. 

This new scheme will support more firs and any support we can offer businesses to help them reach better days ahead is very welcome.

The Borough Council is able to decide their own policy on who to give this money, though the government has asked that four specific types of businesses are prioritised, and has specified three mandatory criteria all applicants must meet in order to receive the grant. Full details of eligible businesses and the eligibility criteria are set out here https://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/discretionarygrant

Government’s mandatory criteria:

Any business or trader wishing to claim the grant must first meet the government’s mandatory criteria:

  1. they are not eligible to claim a grant (regardless of whether they have actually claimed a grant) under:
    1. The Small Business Grant Fund;
    2. The Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund;
    3. The Fisheries Response Fund;
    4. The Domestic Seafood Supply Scheme;
    5. The Zoos Support Fund; or
    6. The Dairy Hardship Fund.
  2. they were trading on 11 March 2020 from the premises they are claiming the grant for, and
  3. they were not in administration, insolvent or subject to a striking off notice either on, or since, 11 March 2020.

Additional eligibility criteria:

In addition to the mandatory criteria, any business or trader wishing to claim the grant must also pass our initial eligibility checks:

  1. they operate or trade within the boundaries of the Borough Council’s area;
  2. they have fixed, ongoing, property related costs;
  3. they demonstrate a significant fall in income due to COVID-19; and 
  4. they are not a Precepting Authority of any local authority.

Only one grant is payable per business / trader under this policy.

https://www.west-norfolk.gov.uk/discretionarygrant