East Cambridgeshire District Council is calling for businesses that it has contacted to return their grant applications for support during the coronavirus pandemic.

The council has contacted more than 1,300 businesses in the area informing them that they are eligible for financial support and instructing them on what they need to do to apply for the grants.

To date, the council has only received applications from approximately half of eligible businesses in the area.

Businesses are eligible if they receive small business rate relief or rural rate relief and can check if they receive this by looking on their business rates statement.

If you have not received an email or a letter, the council asks that you check the eligibility criteria on the East Cambridgeshire District Council dedicated COVID-19 business support page.

If you still think that you are eligible then please email your name, business name, business address and phone number to covid19businessgrants@eastcambs.gov.uk or telephone the Council on 01353 665555.

The Council needs to receive a completed declaration form before grants can be processed.

Councillor David Brown, Chairman of the Finance and Assets Committee said:

“The Government has acted quickly to make this funding available and we have made it a priority to contact all eligible businesses in the district to invite them to apply for the grant.

“While we have made the process as simple as possible for businesses, there are still some actions required on their part, they must return the email application for their grant payment to be processed. We are calling on those eligible businesses that have not yet done this to take action so that we can provide them with the financial support that is earmarked for them.”

Councillor Anna Bailey, Leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, said:

“I would like to thank those that have sent their applications and urge those that haven’t to return their form as soon as possible.

“Our customer service, finance and economic development teams have come together and are going above and beyond to ensure that we process applications as we receive them.

“Our priority during this time is to help local businesses survive this unprecedented situation.”

East Cambridgeshire District Council has also been working with Anglia Revenues Partnership on the Business Rates discount scheme which will be applied automatically for all eligible businesses.  This is the only area where funding will be provided automatically.

For more information about the financial support for businesses, visit the East Cambs website.