£10,000 small business grant scheme now open to businesses that occupy a rental property

Small businesses that occupy a rental property are now able to apply for the £10,000 Small Business Support Grant Scheme, Economy Minister Diane Dodds confirmed today.

A new online form for businesses occupying rental properties is now live on the nibusinessinfo website.

Highlighting this positive development, the Minister said:

“I am pleased to confirm that small businesses that occupy a rental property can now apply for the £10,000 grant scheme.

“I have taken this step so that the small business that occupies a rental property, and not the landlord or managing agent who is responsible for paying the rates, will benefit.”

To date 18,508 payments have been issued to companies under the scheme.

The Minister also confirmed that the first payments had been made under the £25,000 grant scheme for businesses in the retail, hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors.

She said:

“Last Monday applications opened for the scheme to assist businesses in these beleaguered sectors. We are issuing payments to successful applicants as soon as officials have verified their applications. The first run of payments issued last Friday and we have so far issued 263 payments, which take up to three banking days to appear in accounts.

“Work is also ongoing to set up a similar application process for businesses in these sectors that occupy rental properties.”

The Minister concluded by saying:

“Both the £10,000 and £25,000 grant schemes must close on 20 May 2020. I continue to urge anyone who thinks their business is eligible for support under these schemes to submit their applications before that deadline.”

Notes to editors: 

1. The online application form for small businesses that rent premises is available at: http://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/RentalPropertiesandNAVBelow1590  
2. Information on the full range of COVID-19 related support for businesses is available at: https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/campaign/coronavirus-updates-support-your-business
3. Follow us on Twitter @Economy_NI   
4. For media enquiries contact the Department for the Economy Press Office at pressoffice@economy-ni.gov.uk . Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer on 028 9037 8110.

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