£2m fund for local businesses to make adaptations to their premises and/or operations

Essex County Council has confirmed it will allocate £2.2 million of the funding it received when the county entered Tier 2 restrictions to allow local businesses to make adaptations to their premises and/or operations. This is in addition to the £29m in business support funding allocated directly to district-level authorities, including Basildon Borough Council.

Feedback from businesses, and in particular the hospitality and leisure sectors along with other local businesses who have been most affected, has been that they want a quick, simple, targeted and consistent approach to be taken in releasing grant funding.

The County Council has distributed the £2.2m to district councils so that they can administer a streamlined grant scheme to support local businesses who are impacted by the Covid restrictions. Local businesses will need to apply for the grants via Basildon Council from next week (23rd November onwards). Businesses are advised to check the Basildon Council website for details.

A further £2.2m, which Essex received as part of the Tier 2 restrictions funding was allocated to welfare support for the county’s most vulnerable residents.
 

We understand the pressure that the introduction of additional Covid restrictions has put on local businesses, and we will continue to do all we can to support those in need during these unprecedented times. ~ Cllr Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Economic Development

The grants will address the hardship many Basildon businesses have faced as they have either had to close or have seen their trade severely affected by the restrictions, regardless of whether they pay business rates or not. The Essex funding will allow Basildon companies to adapt their businesses to generate income while restrictions remain in place so they are able to reopen when they are removed. The County Council has also relaxed highways restrictions on businesses adapting outdoor areas across the county.

Basildon businesses are eligible for grants of up to £1,500 for adaptations, in addition to the £3,000 in support available from Basildon Council. Applications for funding will be based on their size, sector and the degree of loss or hardship.

Essex Cabinet Member for Economic Growth and County Councillor for Wickford Crouch, Cllr Tony Ball, said: “This package of funding will significantly support local business, and particularly the hospitality sector, across the county. Basildon Council should now work with local businesses to allocate and distribute these grants. We understand the pressure that the introduction of additional Covid restrictions has put on local businesses, and we will continue to do all we can to support those in need during these unprecedented times.”

Any businesses in Basildon Borough wishing to apply should do so via the Basildon Council website.