Last chance to apply for business grants

Businesses across Somerset West and Taunton (SWT) are being encouraged to apply for Small Business or Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Grants before the schemes close.

SWT has processed 3,418 claims amounting to  £40,576,751 since the grants were announced, which equates to 87.6% of those eligible in line with regional and national trends.

The Government now expects final payments to have been made by 28 August with any remaining funds to be returned. 

The Council is making a last attempt to reach those that may qualify but haven’t yet claimed before it has to close applications from 14 August in order to allow time to process them by the cut-off date.

Cllr Marcus Kravis, Executive Member for Economic Development, said: “We have been able to ensure that many eligible businesses have received the grants they are entitled to particularly our small independent businesses and organisations, but there are several in the district that we believe are still eligible to claim. 

These grants, which are non-repayable, could provide a vital lifeline for businesses to survive and prosper as restrictions begin to ease.

They have proved invaluable to so many of our local businesses  so we want to make sure that everyone who is eligible to claim has a chance to do so before the scheme closes.”

SWT is writing to all businesses that it believes are eligible to encourage them to apply and has also asked members to reach out to any business in their ward that they think may be able to benefit.

Eligible businesses that have not previously claimed will be able to make a claim up until 5pm on 14 August at https://www.somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk/business-rates/business-grants-covid-19-response/

The Discretionary Grant Scheme for those that did not qualify for other Covid-19 schemes has now closed.  SWT will continue to process applications in the order they were received and expects to have distributed a further £2,128,250 to approximately 350 businesses.