COVID-19 SMALL BUSINESS DISCRETIONARY GRANTS – SHORT DEADLINE

1. Title: COVID-19 SMALL BUSINESS DISCRETIONARY GRANTS – SHORT DEADLINE2. Awarding Authority: Worcestershire County Council, GB. Web: 3. Contract type: Service contractRestricted4. Description: The Government has made additional money available for a discretionary grants scheme to support small businesses.The Awarding Authority has agreed a policy for these grants and is now inviting eligible small businesses to apply.This discretionary scheme is aimed at supporting some of the small businesses who were not eligible for the Small Business Grant Fund or the Retail, Leisure and Hospitality Fund. It prioritises small and micro businesses with fixed property-related costs that can demonstrate they have suffered a significant fall in income due to the Covid-19 crisis.In line with the guidance issued by the Government, Worcester City Council will, at its own discretion, prioritise businesses/charities that meet the following criteria:Small and micro businesses, as defined in Section 33 Part 2 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 and the Companies Act 2006Businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs. Fixed property costs include rent, mortgage payments, insurance and ratesBusinesses which can demonstrate that they have suffered a fall in income due to the Covid-19 crisisBusinesses which occupy property, or part of a property, with a rateable value or annual rent or annual mortgage payment below £51,000Businesses in one of the following priority categories:Small businesses in shared offices or other flexible work spaces (e.g. units in industrial parks, science parks or incubators) which do not have their own business rates assessmentRegular market traders with fixed building costs, such as rent, who do not have their own business rates assessmentBed and breakfasts which pay council tax instead of business ratesCharity properties in receipt of charity business rate relief which otherwise would have been eligible for SBRR or Rural Rate Relief.5. CPV Code(s): 79400000, 79410000, 790000006. NUTS code(s): UKG, UKG1, UKG1207. Main site or location of works, main place of delivery or main place of performance: West Midlands (England), Herefordshire, Worcestershire And Warwickshire, .8. Reference attributed by awarding authority: DE&I/1977/20209. Estimated value of requirement: Grants of up to £5,000 will be offered to businesses or charities which meet all the other eligibility criteria and can demonstrate they have suffered hardship as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.10. The deadline for application is 30.6.2020 (05:00 pm).11. Address to which they must be sent: For further information on the above contract please visit Web: 12. Other information: Worcester City Council will also consider applications from other businesses and charities which are not within the above four priority categories. Grants of up to £5,000 will be offered to businesses or charities which meet all the other eligibility criteria and can demonstrate they have suffered hardship as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.Businesses that have received or are eligible for cash grants from any other central Government Covid-19-related scheme will not be eligible for this fund. Such grant schemes include but are not limited to:Small Business Grant FundRetail, Hospitality and Leisure GrantThe Fisheries Response FundDomestic Seafood Supply Scheme (DSSS)The Zoos Support FundThe Dairy Hardship Fund.Only businesses which were trading on 11 March 2020 will be eligible to apply for this scheme.Businesses who have applied for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be eligible to apply.Businesses who are eligible for the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will also be eligible to apply.Companies that are in administration, are insolvent or are the subject of a striking-off notice will not be eligible.# funding opportunity# COVID-19