HUNDREDS of small businesses in Solihull are yet to apply for grants to help weather the coronavirus crisis.
As the British economy tumbles into a recession. Solihull council has urged local business managers to take advantage of help.
The council said it had already paid £17 million in government support packages to firms in the borough.
But 677 businesses registered in Solihull have not yet submitted claims for grants.
Councillor Ian Courts, Leader of Solihull Council, said: “We have identified a total of 1,907 businesses in the borough which we believe are entitled to one of the two grants we are operating. As of yesterday, April 21, we have paid out £17 million to 1,230 businesses.
“However there are still 677 businesses who have not yet applied. I urge them to fill in the simple form and take advantage of this funding.
“We need our local businesses to keep going and be ready for whenever the lockdown finishes – this funding could be a lifeline.
“We aim to pay these grants out as quickly as possible but we need information from each business before we can make a payment.
“Once we receive a completed form, we have to carry out eligibility and pre-payment checks, which means that it can take up to 10 working days for us to pay the grant. It is vital that businesses who have not yet claimed make their application as soon as possible, so that we can get this essential funding out to them.”
The council stated under the Small Business Grants Fund, all businesses which on March 11 2020 were in receipt of either Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rates Relief will be eligible for a grant payment of £10,000.
Under the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund, businesses which on March 11 2020 had a rateable value of less than £51,000 and are eligible for a discount under the business rates expanded retail discount scheme will be eligible for a grant of £10,000 for rateable values up to £15,000, or a grant of £25,000 for rateable values between £15,001 and £51,000.
Businesses will either receive the Small Business Grant or the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant, but cannot receive both.
Solihull council added it has already paid all eligible businesses that are entitled to a grant – those which have provided the necessary details to process the payment and have passed the pre-payment checks.
Officers are continuing to work on applications received daily but there are still 677 businesses which have not yet applied. In order to qualify for a grant, businesses need to complete the on-line form which can be found through the council’s website solihull.gov.uk.
