Fareham Borough Council has today confirmed details of two new grant funding streams available to some of the business hardest hit by the recent lockdown restrictions. These schemes form part of the Council’s discretionary grant funding scheme.
The first grant scheme launched on 14 December and provides market traders with the opportunity to have their stall costs reimbursed. This grant is designed to help existing stall holders and new market traders in both Fareham and Portchester by reimbursing fees paid through their market operator.
The second grant is designed to help businesses that may have missed out on previous schemes and have suffered losses due to the national lockdown in November. Three groups are eligible for this grant:
- Rate payers not forced to close who experienced increased costs or reduced income of more than 15%.
- Non-rate payers operating out of commercial premises who were forced to close or were not forced to close but experienced increased costs or reduced income of more than 15%.
- Businesses that operate from domestic premises who were forced to close or were not forced to close but experienced increased costs or decreased income of more than 15%
Businesses that operate from domestic premises and so were not eligible for the discretionary grants scheme earlier in the year, may also be eligible for a top up payment under this scheme.
Executive Leader of Fareham Borough Council, Cllr Seán Woodward, said: “Over three hundred businesses across Fareham were forced to close during the most recent lockdown and many of these have been forced to remain closed due to tier two restrictions. Some businesses have also seen a significant increase in costs or a loss of income, so these grants are designed to help ease some of the pressure on them.
“If your business meets the criteria of any of these new schemes, I would urge you to take advantage of this grant.”
The full details of the eligibility criteria and detail of how to apply can be found at: https://www.fareham.gov.uk/coronavirus/businesses.aspx
