Support for businesses on offer from Lancaster City Council
Relaunched rent grant scheme offers financial support.
Lancaster City Council has relaunched its popular Business Rent Grant Scheme.
The scheme, which has been extended for a further two years thanks to funding from the Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership, can provide up to 50% of the first year’s basic rent on commercial premises.
To qualify businesses must be under three years old and operate in sectors such as manufacturing, ICT, digital and new media, environmental technologies and services to industry.
Coun Evelyn Archer, Cabinet member with responsibility for the economy, said: “In these uncertain times businesses need our support to help them grow more than ever.
“The aim of the rent grant is to support the aspirations of small businesses that wish to grow and maintain the thriving local business community that we are blessed to have in our district.”
The city council has so far offered grants to 18 local businesses, including some of the creative businesses who have moved into the newly refurbished Storey Creative Industries Centre.
Other recipients include companies based in CityLab, Lancaster University’s Environment Centre, Infolab21, White Cross and White Lund trading estates. To date this has led to the creation of 16 new jobs.
The rent grant scheme also forms part of a wider package of publicly funded business support called “Solutions for Business”. This package offers businesses a range of options to help them weather the current economic crisis.
Businesses wanting to find out more about how to apply for a rent grant, or what other sources of funding are available, should call the city council on 01524 582279 or visit www.lancaster.gov.uk/business.
Date Updated: 28/07/09