Coronavirus: Portsmouth City Council in desperate race against time to hand out £800,000 to struggling city businesses

Portsmouth City Council has issued an urgent plea to businesses left crippled by the coronavirus crisis to come forward and apply for the fund before it’s too late.

The windfall was part of a £1.9m aid package given out to Portsmouth by the government during the peak of the pandemic.

So far, £1.1m has been dished out to companies across Portsmouth. But come Monday, August 17, applications will close, with the remainder of the money heading back to London.

Councillor Steve Pitt, deputy leader of the council and the city’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and economic development, said the money could be a lifeline.

‘Keeping smaller businesses going in these incredibly difficult times is crucial for the city's economic future and for the health of our local communities,’ he said.

‘We would prefer that all this money is used to help eligible local businesses rather than have to send it back to the government unspent. We're doing all we can to let local businesses know about it, and have widened the criteria to encourage more applications.

‘I'd urge businesses that haven't applied before, or who haven't been eligible for other grants, to find out more and make an application as soon as they can.’

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The fund is open to a range of companies hit hardest by the pandemic, from small businesses and B&B owners to market traders and larger organisations.

In June, firms had an opportunity to apply to the council for money from the Local Authority Discretionary Business Grant Fund.

But with the pot not used up, the city council has opened applications up again in the hope of reaching more people.

The latest round is for businesses, or charitable organisations run as businesses, that did not apply last time the grants were offered.

This time, the eligibility criteria have been widened to include more businesses and more home-based firms.

During the first round of applications, grants were aimed at businesses occupying property with a rateable value, annual rent or annual mortgage payments of up to £51,000.

Now the council has raised the limit to £100,000, although businesses in lower-value properties are still encouraged to apply.

Companies should complete their application before 9am on Monday, August 17.

Forms can be filled by heading to portsmouth.gov.uk/businesssupport and clicking on the 'discretionary grant fund' button.

Previously unsuccessful applicants are welcome to re-apply, if they now meet the new criteria.

For help in applying, call the council’s coronavirus business hotline, from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, on 023 9284 1641.

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