Mid Sussex businesses and community groups helped out by recovery grants

To support them through this difficult time, Mid Sussex District Council is making £300,000 available through a dedicated Covid-19 Recovery Fund.

The council’s cabinet grants panel met last week to consider the first round of applications with 45 community groups and businesses awarded grant funding of up to £5,000 each.

With £150,000 available in the fund, a second round has opened for new applications until January 15. To apply visit www.midsussex.gov.uk/licensing- business/grants-and-funding

The grants will help a number of businesses purchase new equipment and develop new ways of doing business, so they can reach new customers and continue to trade in these difficult conditions.

Many are in sectors that have been hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic.

Stephen Hillier, cabinet member for economic growth said: “It’s vitally important that we continue to support our local businesses and help them to remain resilient during this awful pandemic.

“We’ve had a fantastic response since we opened our Covid-19 Recovery Fund and it’s great to be able to support businesses right across the District.

“We’ve worked closely with the business associations in our three towns and I’m extremely grateful to them for the excellent work they’ve done to help promote our grants within the business community.

“By helping local businesses to fund these projects, we are enabling them to grow their businesses and create additional jobs, which will be vital to the future prosperity of our area as we recover from Covid-19.”

Applications were also received from a wide range of voluntary sector organisations and local community groups that work to support Mid Sussex residents. The funding will help to support many different projects including food deliveries for vulnerable people, enabling people to exercise safely with local sports groups and the expansion of a telephone befriending service that helps to combat loneliness.

Norman Webster, cabinet member for community, said: “We have always worked closely with the local voluntary sector and it was fantastic to see the way local communities, support organisations and local authorities all pulled together this year in response to the pandemic so that we could take care of our most vulnerable.

“Many of our local voluntary groups do fantastic work for our community but are unable to benefit from the Government funded grant schemes that support businesses through this pandemic. I’m proud that Mid Sussex District Council has stepped up and provided this much needed grant funding to help them through this difficult time.

“This funding will help our local voluntary groups to respond to the immediate challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and to adapt and reconfigure their operations, so they are in a strong position to provide their services in the future.”

The Covid-19 Recovery Grant Fund is available to help in three key areas:

Emergency Response – Financial help with the additional costs that are incurred whilst operating under Covid-19 restrictions

Return to Pre-Covid Provision – A grant to local groups and businesses to help them reopen, and return to business as usual in a way that is Covid-19 secure

New Service or Business Innovation – Financial support to help local businesses and support organisations adapt to new ways of working