Applications open for COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund
Tuesday, 1 February 2022
Applications are open for rate-paying businesses in Central Bedfordshire to benefit from the COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund scheme.
The government has allocated us approximately £5.3 million to provide business rates relief for businesses impacted by COVID-19 and who are not eligible for other existing relief schemes such as the Extended Retail Discount, Nursery Discount and Small Business Rate Relief.
Applications are open for four weeks until Monday 28 February 2022.
To be eligible, a business must:
- not be eligible (or would have been eligible) for any rate relief scheme from the government or us (i.e. Expanded Retail Discount, Nursery Discount and Small Business Rate Relief)
- have been adversely impacted by the pandemic and have been unable to adequately adapt to that impact
Eligible businesses will receive a 30% rate relief off their 2021/22 bill. The maximum amount of funding for rate relief that can be awarded to a business is £25,000.
Councillor David Shelvey, our Executive Member for Corporate Resources, said:
The COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund will enable more businesses from more sectors to receive business rate relief, who otherwise would not be entitled to receive financial assistance from the us.
Many businesses have found trading a challenge during the pandemic and this support will help them to continue. I urge eligible businesses not to hesitate and apply as soon as possible.