A Fantastic Effort By Folkestone & Hythe District Council Staff
They’ve been amazing! Yes, Folkestone & Hythe District Council staff have been incredible as they have paid out over £8 million in government business grants to local businesses hard-hit by the COVID-19 outbreak. We congratulate them on their efforts.
The Council have received more 1,000 requests for these grants to date and the business rates team have processed them to get the money distributed into the local economy – often getting through 250 applications in a single day.
To help their cash flow even more businesses are also getting the money transferred to them the very same day their grant is processed.
Under the Small Business Grant Fund (SBGF) all businesses in England in receipt of Small Business Rates Relief (SBRR) or Rural Rates Relief (RRR) as of the 11 March will be eligible for a payment of £10,000.
Under the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant (RHLG) businesses in England that would have been in receipt of the Expanded Retail Discount (which covers retail, hospitality and leisure) on 11 March, with a rateable value of less than £51,000, will be eligible for cash grants of up to £25,000 per property.
The criteria for eligible businesses and the application form can be found here ⇒ folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/business-grant-fund
The Council have a business telephone helpline 0333 3602300 open from 8.30am – 4pm Monday to Friday.
Enquiries about the personalised support package for businesses should be sent to ⇒ economy@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk
Other help for local businesses see ⇒ folkestone.works/COVID-19-business-updates or gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support
The Shepwayvox Team
Not owned by Hedgefunds or Barons
It is good that the Council staff have been able to respond so promptly.