Over £10million given to support local businesses in Bedford

Businesses in Bedford have started to receive support from the council to support them during the coronavirus pandemic.

The council has already given £10.12million to support eligible businesses through the impact of coronavirus.

Bedford Borough Council is administering the Government grant funding for certain businesses ratepayers affected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The council has set up an online form, to make it as easy as possible for local ratepayers to get this money.

Eligible businesses are asked to get in touch with the council online and provide the necessary details for their business, which will enable the council to get this grant funding to them as quickly as possible.

Grants available to businesses include:

- Small business grant funding of £10,000 for all business in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief

- Grant funding for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses of £10,000 where the rateable value is up to including £15,000, with the grant increasing to £25,000 where the rateable value is between £15,001 and £50,999.

This is in addition to a 12-month business rates holiday for all retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery businesses in England.

Mayor Dave Hodgson said: “We are working to get this support funding to businesses as soon as possible, with extra staff being transferred to do this work.

"To date, around 1,300 businesses have filled in a form and 1,100 have been approved.

“However, there are businesses locally that are eligible that have not yet been in touch. If you think you are eligible for this support, please get in touch with us at www.bedford.gov.uk/covid19business.”