DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS EXTENDED TO CLOSE OF PLAY FRIDAY 10th JULY
Lewisham Council has announced a new £2 million fund to provide further support to local charities and small businesses hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic, and to protect jobs and livelihoods.
The Lewisham Small Business Support Fund will help organisations which have experienced a significant decrease in income as a result of the pandemic, and which have fallen through the cracks of other government support measures.
The fund will prioritise businesses in shared offices and flexible workspaces, businesses in the creative and cultural sector and the night time economy, and businesses that are crucial for local growth and regeneration. It is anticipated there will be high demand and businesses likely to be successful will be committed to the London Living Wage and to environmental sustainability and social value as well as demonstrating resilience and growth potential.
Applications openend on Tuesday 16th June, and grants will be paid by early July.
There will be limited funding as only £2m has been allocated by government for Lewisham. The council has been working to determine the fairest way for this to be distributed to businesses most in need across the borough.
Cllr Dromey, Cabinet lead for employment and skills at Lewisham Council said:
“We are committed to helping local small businesses and residents who have been hit hard by this crisis.
“We’ve worked closely with the local business community to develop this scheme. We hope the funding will help protect jobs and livelihoods across the borough during this difficult time and enable us to build back better after the pandemic.”
Lewisham Council has established the Lewisham Backs Business Taskforce to oversee efforts to support the economic recovery. The group – which brings together business leaders and local stakeholders – has helped shape the design of the Small Business Support Fund.
Over the past 10 weeks, the council has distributed over £38 million in emergency grants to local small businesses that have been hit hard by the crisis. The council has taken calls from hundreds of businesses and gathered insights via a business survey to build a picture of where the need is across Lewisham. Lewisham council has also taken action to help residents, distributing £2.5m in emergency funding to support people through the crisis.