SOLIHULL Council has announced an extra £925,000 discretionary business grant scheme to continue supporting local hospitality and leisure sector businesses.
The new scheme will provide additional help for businesses in the hospitality and leisure sector with a rateable value of £51,000 or above.
Businesses that meet the criteria will receive £25,000. To be eligible for this additional support businesses need to meet the following criteria:
Are in the hospitality sector, leisure sector or are a hotel that is not part of a chain and the business has not previously received a £25,000 grant
Are liable for business rates and have a rateable value of £51,000 or above
Has received a Tier 2 and/or a National Lockdown Grant
Has adhered to and implemented all of the restrictions required in response to Covid
The Council will identify those businesses who meet the above criteria and will automatically award the additional grant.
Councillor Bob Sleigh OBE, cabinet member for resources, said: “I understand we are the first council to offer this additional support for our hospitality and leisure sector. We recognise the challenges they have faced during both the lockdowns and are now continuing to face under Tier 3.
“Wherever possible over the past months we have sought to find ways to keep our local economy going, as we know at some point we will return to more normal times.
“We have only been able to find these extra funds through our usual prudent approach to Council finances during the pandemic.
“Once we identify those businesses who meet the criteria, we will be able to award a one off payment of £25,000. I hope this will give businesses some help towards weathering the current storm and return to trading once the restrictions are relaxed.”
