Derby City Council will be running a second application window for the COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF), which may provide additional assistance to businesses that are still struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CARF scheme aims to provide support for businesses for the 2021/22 financial year which have been affected by the pandemic but were ineligible to apply for existing business rates support.
As the scheme will soon be coming to an end, the council is writing directly to all businesses that it believes may be entitled to support from the CARF scheme and inviting them to make an application.
The application window will run from 15 August until midnight on 4 September. After this time the application window will close, and the council will not accept further applications. As funding is limited any potential awards will not be considered or distributed until after the application period closes on 4 September 2022.
The fund is available for businesses that occupy premises that have a rateable value and where they have a business rates account and were liable for business rates during some or all of the 2021/22 financial year. They must also have a business rates debt for the 2021/22 financial year at the time they make their application.
Cllr Jonathan Smale, cabinet member for finance, digital and culture, said: “I would encourage eligible businesses to submit their applications before the deadline so that they do not miss out on vital assistance. To be clear, this assistance is not a grant given to businesses, but rather a temporary reduction in their 2021/22 business rates.”
