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Aug 2020

Last Updated: 24/08/2020

Business

Harrogate businesses take up reopening grants from the BID

by Yasmin Waters

| 24 Aug, 2020

With £14,000 in grants already handed out to 27 businesses in Harrogate town centre to help them reopen after the coronavirus lockdown, there is still a quarter of the funding pot available.

Harrogate

A share of £14,000 in grants has been handed out to businesses in Harrogate town centre to help them reopen after the coronavirus lockdown.

Harrogate BID has offered a match-funded grant of £750 for vital equipment - and so far, 27 companies have taken up the offer.

The funds must be spent on signage, barriers, screens and other safety equipment. Sanitiser is not included on the list.

More than a quarter of the £20,000 of funding is still available, taken from the BID's annual income which comes from a levy on business rates paid by town centre businesses over a certain rateable value.

Harrogate BID acting chair Sara Ferguson said:

“Businesses have been through an awful lot since mid-March’s lockdown, and I’m pleased that the BID is able to offer financial assistant to levy payers to be able to reopen.

“The town centre is home to a wide range of businesses, who employ a large number of staff from across the district."

Submissions from levy payers must include a brief description of equipment already purchased, what they are in the process of buying, plus receipts, estimated delivery dates and expected costs. Grants are not restricted to retail and hospitality businesses.

Levy payers can apply for the funding by emailing info@harrogatebid.co.uk, and find out more by visiting the Harrogate BID website.