Maldon district businesses can now apply for a range of grants to help pay for adaptations made as a result of Covid-19.

The Essex Business Adaptation Grant scheme was announced in November by Essex County Council (ECC). The scheme will supply capital grants of up to £1,500 to local businesses experiencing added pressures since Essex was placed under Tier Two high level restrictions by the Government.

The cash is to help businesses carry out adjustments to enable them to continue to operate safely. The total funding available to Maldon District Council to support businesses is £154,000.

Businesses that are eligible

To be eligible for a Essex Business Adaptation Grant a business must:

-have fixed property related costs

-have been open and trading to visiting members of the public on 4 November

-have had to close or have been severely impacted by the national lockdown restrictions

-not be insolvent, in administration, or having been issued a striking off notice

The grant can only be used to cover money spent on carrying out adaptations since 15 October.

Grants of £500 will be awarded for the purpose of:

-promoting that the business is open and Covid-secure, such as signage, stencils, leaflets, advertising, web and mobile technology

-training, upskilling or reskilling staff in courses directly connected to or associated with the adaptions or changes being made for businesses.

Grants of £1,000 will be awarded for the purpose of:

-promoting that the business is open and Covid-secure such as signage, stencils, leaflets, advertising, web and mobile technology

-training, upskilling or reskilling staff in courses directly connected to or associated with the adaptions or changes being made for businesses

-enabling improvements, adjustments, or expansion of the business premises to help keep it open in response to Covid-secure practices and social distancing guidelines - for example, sanitiser stations/units, protective screens, barriers, or adaptions for serving food and drink.

Grants of £1,500 will be awarded for the purpose of:

-promoting that the business is open and Covid-secure such as signage, stencils, leaflets, advertising, web and mobile technology

-training , upskilling , or reskilling staff in courses directly connected to or associated with the adaptions or changes being made for businesses

-enabling improvements, adjustments, or expansion of the business premises to help the business stay open in response to Covid-secure practices and social distancing guidelines - for example, sanitiser stations/units, protective screens, barriers, or adaptions for serving food and drink

-helping with costs associated with setting up and running an online presence where the business does not currently have an one, for example, digital technology platforms or licensing

-enabling the business to diversify operations to generate new or enhance existing income streams including the purchase of equipment for this.

For more information on these and other pandemic business grants visit the Maldon District Council website via the link here.