Lincolnshire County Council has distributed the first of its grants to county firms hit by the lockdown and unable to qualify under central government programmes.

Last week, the council voted to set aside £12 million for this and related business support schemes when it confirmed its budget last week.

Now, the council has begun to distribute its own money and is urging firms to come forward and apply.

Coun leader Martin Hill told the Friday budget meeting: "We know local businesses have had a particularly tough time during the pandemic, and many will have taken up the financial support on offer from the government.

"In Lincolnshire, around £200m has been administered to businesses in the form of the small business grant fund and in addition many Lincolnshire business have seen their rates bills reduced, often to zero, and this

support has totalled just over £100m. "That's a huge investment by government, but some businesses have not been able to receive support and that's where we want to act. "There are estimated to be between 1000 and 2000 county businesses who were unable to claim government support. "Where government funding has not been accessible, these businesses who have not been able to operate or whose takings have reduced significantly have often exhausted their cash reserves. "The grants we are putting in place are particularly aimed at those that have not benefited from the government's Covid support schemes, such as those that are less than a year old or without premises or

home-based."

Coun Hill continued: "We are particularly supporting smaller businesses with 50 employees or fewer.

"Our small, local businesses are the backbone of the county economy – there are around 43,000 in Lincolnshire, and it's vital we help those that have had no help, to ensure they survive the financial impact of the pandemic."

The main grant scheme was launched yesterday (Tuesday) and offers support of up to £10,000 through

in a £7m Business Recovery Grant Fund scheme. This main scheme will be followed by others in early March – separate pots of money for specific needs. These will be launched on a staggered basis and include a scheme to help digital transformation, a grant specifically for rural businesses and village shops, and grants to support business growth. Coun Hill added: "We know that there will be high demand for the grants, and that we may not be able to

help everyone.

"But if there was ever a time small businesses in Lincolnshire needed our help it's now, and as a council we must do as much as we can."

Details of Lincolnshire County Council's four new grant funds for small businesses have been published, as previously reported by Nub News.

The Lincolnshire grants are thought to be a unique offer from any council in the country.

Following budget approval from the full council last Friday, the four grant schemes are:

Business recovery fund (for small businesses who have not been able to access the government grants to date)

Launches for applications from noon 23 February 2021 until 11.59pm on 25th Feb

Application criteria now available.

Digital voucher fund

(supporting businesses in improving digitisation) Expression of Interest window will be open between 8 March 2021 and 12 March 2021 Application criteria published 1 March. Invest for the future grant (to contribute towards business expansion) Expression of Interest window will be open between 15th March – 26th March Application criteria published 8 March. Rural business grant (for businesses and organisations with projects specifically in rural areas) Expression of Interest window will be open between 8 March 2021 and 17 March 2021. Application criteria published 1 March. At a recent meeting of the council's Environment and Economy scrutiny committee, members praised the £12m support for small businesses for its innovation and fast response to the latest lockdown which has put further strain on local businesses.