Final call to Harrogate businesses and charities as coronavirus support scheme nears closure date

The final round of Harrogate Borough Council's discretionary grants scheme will run until this Friday, August 28, but the advice is not to wait until the last minute to apply.

The £2.3m scheme is administered by the council on behalf of the government and aims to benefit organisations that have not been able to access other national coronavirus grants.

They can apply for grants of up to £10,000, which will be staggered depending on the size and nature of the business, with the council deciding how to fairly distribute the money to benefit as many businesses as possible.

Businesses must have been trading before March 11, 2020 and have fewer than 50 employees.

They must also have a rateable value or annual mortgage of below £51,000 and demonstrate an ongoing fixed property cost.

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The financial help is not available to businesses eligible for other government coronavirus grants.

Some of the organisations which are eligible include small businesses in shared offices or other flexible workspaces, market traders, bed and breakfast owners, and charities in receipt of charitable business rates relief.

The council said all submitted applications will be acknowledged by email and applicants will be contacted with a decision in September.

Applicants to the first two phases of the scheme should be contacted during August.

For more information go to the council's website.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter