MORE information is now available on how businesses struggling to stay afloat in the coronavirus crisis can apply for grants.

Sedgemoor District Council announced today (Wednesday, April 1) a range of measures to help some of the businesses affected by the coronavirus.

SDC has created a page on its website where the government measures are described, and there are links to other help and advice available, locally and nationally.

In line with the Government announcement about grant funding for small businesses and those in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors, SDC has put together an online form that should be used to apply for grants.

Eligible businesses are asked to supply some basic information to help officers to process the payments.

Any business unable to use the online form will be given assistance and guidance on eligibility is given on the grants page: www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/covid19grants.

A spokesman for Sedgemoor District Council said: "The Council aims to get payments into the bank accounts of the eligible businesses within 10 working days of receiving the required information from the online form.

"If for some reason this is not possible, the Council will contact the business concerned."
 
As well as administering the grants, Sedgemoor has applied the 100% Extended Retail Rates Discount for 2020/21, meaning that that eligible businesses will have no rates to pay during 2020/21 on the premises concerned.

If these businesses were due to have rates payments collected by direct debit from April these will not now be taken.
 
For further information visit www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/business.