March 3rd, 2021.


Cabinet councillors at Lewes District Council have earmarked a funding pot for businesses in the district and self-employed who are suffering exceptional hardship, including those that have not been able to access any of the government Covid-19 support.

Councillor James MacCleary, Leader of Lewes District Council, said: "We are increasingly aware of residents and businesses in the district that have fallen through the cracks of the government's Covid-19 funding and are in desperate need of support.

"Through discussions with our senior officers, we've identified an opportunity to create a funding pool for smaller businesses that have suffered a significant downturn in income, as well as those told to close by the government. This scheme will be available to the self-employed too."

Lewes District Council will also introduce a special recovery grant for businesses in order to assist them as the country emerges from the lockdown. The grant will support a range of business development areas, such as staff training, expansion and adaptations, for instance an online retail offer.

Councillor Zoe Nicholson, Deputy Leader of the Council, said: "We are doing everything we can to support the survival of existing businesses and provide the conditions that will allow new businesses to thrive when we put the pandemic behind us. The maintenance of a sustainable local economy is clearly fundamental to this and integral to our long-term community wealth building plans and policies."