BUSINESS owners hit by the city’s recent floods have just over a fortnight left to apply for a grant to help them get back on their feet.
Company bosses who had water in their premises can apply for a maximum of £3,000 while businesses which were indirectly affected by flooding, for example if their road was shut, can get up to £1,500.
The money has been allocated by central government and topped up by Worcestershire County Council which has put up £200,000 to help with the recovery and the application deadline has been extended until Friday, April 4.
Worcester City Council is also offering business rate relief for three months.
Finally from the start of next month, a non-means tested grant of up to £5,000 will be open to applications from householders and businesses to pay for repairs which will improve a property’s ability to withstand future flooding.
Coun Simon Geraghty, Worcestershire County Council deputy leader and also responsible for economy, skills and infrastructure, urged business owners to apply for financial help.
“We are working hard to ensure the funding put in place gets to the businesses affected as quickly as possible,” he said.
“Applications submitted early have already been processed and approved, so I urge any business that has been significantly affected but have not yet submitted an application form to do so as soon as possible.”
The funds are being made available through Worcestershire.Business.Central – the county-wide business support service in partnership with the city council.
Coun Adrian Gregson, leader of Worcester City Council, added: “With Worcester having just been named as one of the ten best cities for business, we need to ensure that our firms that were affected by the floods do not miss out.
“I would urge them to get their applications in for this support as quickly as possible.”
For more information, to receive an application pack or be signposted to other offers of support for businesses, including farms, visit www.business-central.co.uk, email [email protected] or call Worcestershire.Business.Central on 0300 123 1440.
The lines will be staffed Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.
