Firebreak grants worth £10.7m go to thousands of city businesses

housands of city businesses are benefiting this week from almost £10.7m in grants to help them get through the latest Covid-19 firebreak.

Swansea Council handed out nearly £100m to local businesses in the summer as part of Welsh Government schemes designed to help protect jobs during and after the lockdown.

Now more than 3,400 businesses will share in millions of pounds of grants which are appearing in their bank accounts from today to help them weather the firebreak and protect jobs.

Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, said: “We have pulled out all the stops to get the available money to local businesses who need it as quickly as we can, more quickly than almost any other local authority in Wales.

“We’re expect thousands of eligible local businesses should see their grants dropping into bank accounts today if they’ve not already done so. This is good news for those businesses who’ve been doing all they can to survive and protect their workers during this crisis.

He said: “I know businesses have been waiting patiently to hear the news. We’re pleased to say that in Swansea as many businesses as possible are receiving grants to which they are eligible automatically.

“The grants scheme is being funded by the Welsh Government and is being administered by us. During the earlier lockdown we handed over almost £100m in support to city businesses and this new money will very much be welcomed.

“Businesses have had a tough time since the first lockdown started in March and the council has been doing all it can to support them.”

Full details about eligibility and how to apply are on the council’s website here: www.swansea.gov.uk/firebreakgrants

There are two types of grant on offer – business rates grants and discretionary grants.

The deadline for applications for the business rates grants is November 20 at 5pm unless the fund is fully committed before then.

While the deadline for the discretionary grant is also November 20, businesses are being encouraged to get their applications in as quickly as possible.

Retail, leisure and hospitality businesses that have been forced to close due to the firebreak  and occupy properties with a rateable value of between £12,001 and £51,000 may be eligible for a grant of up to £5,000. Businesses must be on the Council’s Non-Domestic Rate rating list for Swansea on 1st September 2020.

Among those eligible for a £5,000 grant will be those who run premises wholly or mainly used:

• As shops, restaurants, cafes, drinking establishments, cinemas and live music venues
• For assembly and leisure
• As hotels, guest and boarding premises and self-catering accommodation

Small businesses could be eligible for grants of between £1,000 and £4,000 depending on their circumstances. Businesses must be on the Council’s Non-Domestic Rate rating list for Swansea on 1st September 2020 to be eligible.

In addition to this the Welsh Government has agreed to provide grants of up to £4,000 to eligible charities and community amateur sports clubs (CASCs) who are liable to pay rates, operate in the retail, leisure or hospitality sector and occupy premises with a rateable value of up to £12,000. This applies even if they don’t have to pay rates due to the charitable relief the council awards them 

The council is making automatic payments to eligible charities/CASCs wherever possible using information obtained during the payment of the last round of Non-Domestic Rate grants, earlier this year.

Only charities / CASCs that are eligible for the new NDR grant but did not get the previous NDR grant, will need to fill in an application form.

Businesses applying for a discretionary grant will be processed as quickly as possible. Those who qualify will receive a grant of £1,500 or £2,000, depending on the level of impact on trade. Businesses will have to show they were actively trading up to the time the firebreak was introduced.