Do you run a small business? Did you struggle to get funding in the first round of council business grants? Maybe you are a newish business or were not on the rates list. Maybe you did not qualify against the government’s original criteria.

If this is the case – you may still be able to apply for the ESC’s Discretionary Business Grant Scheme  – but time is running out. The deadline for applications is August 14th – so if you want to apply – now is the time.

The Discretionary Business Grant Scheme has been a great success and since its launch in May, with the Council  paying out £2,503,000, providing financial support to 227 small businesses which were ineligible for the Government’s initial round of business funding

The council expects all the money provided by the government to be fully allocated shortly and, with this in mind, it is setting a final deadline of August 14 for any remaining applications.

Cllr Craig Rivett, East Suffolk Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “The scheme has been open since May and has supported well over 200 businesses. We are confident that the full sum provided by government will be allocated and therefore we must encourage anyone who feels they may still be eligible, but has not applied, to do so as soon as possible.

“As we have said repeatedly, there is limited funding available, and once it is gone, it is gone.”

The online form and full details about how to apply with full eligibility can be found here: www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/business/covid-19-business-grant-funding/.