City Council launches new business grant
With many businesses feeling the effects of the credit crunch, Lancaster City Council is pleased to offer new-start and early stage businesses a helping hand.
With many businesses feeling the effects of the credit crunch, Lancaster City Council is pleased to offer new-start and early stage businesses a helping hand.
The council is offering a grant towards rent for businesses that are within their first three years of trading. The grants are worth up to 50% of the first year’s basic rent on new leases, for premises located across the whole of the district.
To qualify for the grant, businesses must employ no more than 10 full time staff and operate in sectors such as manufacturing, ICT/new media, environmental technologies, creative industries, services to industry or community enterprises. They must also be able to show that there is potential for employment growth.
Coun Abbott Bryning, cabinet member with responsibility for employment opportunities and regeneration in Lancaster, said “The local economy has improved greatly over the last few years but still has relatively low levels of business start-up. The new rent grant scheme will help to address this issue and create job opportunities by offering vital support to businesses in their early stages. I would urge any new or early-stage business to contact the business development team to find out if they are eligible for funding”.
The new Rent Grant follows on from the successful Business Development Grant which has been administered by the city council for a number of years, with funding from the city council and the European Regional Development Fund. Local companies that have benefited from this previous scheme include the Port of Lancaster Smokehouse, Fat Media, Halo Laboratories, and Woosh Energy.
The Rent Grant Scheme is administered by the Economic Development and Tourism service, who are also able to provide access to a wide range of business information and advice, including details of property availability within the District.
Further information, including guidance notes and application forms, can be obtained from the business development team by calling 01524 582279 or by visiting www.lancaster.gov.uk/RentGrant
Date Updated: 19/03/09