New help for Harrogate businesses and charities from £2.3million grants fund

They will soon be able to apply to Harrogate Borough Council for grants ranging from £2,500 to £10,000 under its £2.3million discretionary grants fund.

The latest scheme aims to benefit market traders, nurseries and B&B owners who missed out on previous handouts because they pay council tax instead of business rates.

Charity properties and small businesses including those in shared offices and flexible work spaces will also be eligible.

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The grants 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.

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

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Until Harrogate Borough Council opens applications, it will continue to distribute money under the existing Small Business Grants Fund and the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grants Fund.

The council has so far paid out £46.6million of the £50million it was given by the government under that scheme.

That is made up of payments to more than 3,900 businesses and the council is now reaching out to firms which have yet to apply for help.

Coun Graham Swift, deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development, said the council is preparing to launch the latest discretionary grants fund in the coming weeks.

"These funds are aimed at small businesses with ongoing fixed property costs who may have missed out in previous grant fund schemes", he said.

"B&B businesses and smaller charities will be particular beneficiaries of this and we will be making announcements in the very near future.”

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter