MORE than 6,000 eligible businessses in Cornwall are still in line for Gorvernment grants but have not yet applied for the cash.
Cornwall Council has now paid more than £200m in emergency grant money to small businesses to support them through the Coronavirus crisis.
Within days of receiving details of the criteria set out by Government, the Council had written to around 24,000 small businesses to explain how to apply, and it is the first local authority in the UK to pass the £200m mark in pay outs.
The grants do not have to be repaid.
Council leader Julian German said: ’Our team has been working around the clock to get this money out to those that qualify.
’There are businesses that are yet to claim and our message to them is to get in touch as soon as possible.
Cllr German said that the Council was aware of businesses which ‘fall through the gaps’ in qualifying for this grant and he says the issue has been raised with Cornwall’s MPs and the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
’We have also sought clarity on the issue of discretionary payments which, if allowed, would mean we could pass on some of the grant funding to some of those businesses who are currently not entitled to any form of Government financial support,’ he added.
All businesses in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in receipt of Small Business Rate Relief or Rural Rate Relief are eligible for a one-off grant of £10,000.
Retail, hospitality and leisure businesses in receipt of Expanded Retail Discount and with a rateable value of less than £51,000 are potentially eligible for a grant of £25,000.
Businesses in Cornwall that believe they are eligible for a grant but have not received a letter from Cornwall Council should call Cornwall Council on 0300 1234 171.