"We want to help as many businesses as we can, as quickly as we can, in order to keep businesses afloat and safeguard as many jobs as possible."
Further financial support is available to help businesses impacted by restrictions.
The application process for the ‘Additional Restrictions’ grant scheme, covering the impact of restrictions from December, is now open.
This grant scheme seeks to help businesses who have been severely affected by the restrictions and unlike the other schemes includes businesses who do not have rateable premises.
The scheme will award eligible businesses up to £9,900 in support based on their size and the extent of their fixed costs. Larger sums will also be available in exceptional circumstances such as to businesses supporting key sectors of the local economy.
Market traders, taxi firms, businesses operating from home, companies in shared work spaces and those in the events sector are amongst the businesses which will have the opportunity to apply for this grant.
Businesses should visit www.braintree.gov.uk/helpforbusinesses to find out more about the scheme, the criteria and application process.
Cllr Tom Cunningham, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Infrastructure at Braintree District Council, said: “We are launching a second phase so that we can make another tranche of payments to businesses outside the scope of the other schemes. We want to help as many businesses as we can, as quickly as we can, in order to keep businesses afloat and safeguard as many jobs as possible. We want to distribute the money in the most efficient way possible because we know how important these grants are in ensuring a strong economic recovery.”
Braintree District Council has issued £39 million in grants to more than 2,600 businesses since the pandemic began in March 2020.