Councillors today agreed a £150,000 funding programme for small businesses in towns and villages across Babergh to be allocated over the next three years.

With many businesses currently facing uncertain and difficult times, the new fund scheme from Babergh will provide a much needed boost to businesses after the coronavirus crisis to help sustain and create jobs, provide opportunities to grow and innovate as well as react to the changing business landscape.

Small businesses from start-ups to those looking to expand, will be able to apply for a grant from one of four different funding streams:

Enterprise and Innovation Fund

Environmental Sustainability Fund

The grants can be used in a variety of ways from improving environmental outcomes and sustainability, accessing professional advice and training, improving disabled access and business frontage or for the development of technology-based business solutions.

The grant value will be up to £2.5k for each of the funds except the Enterprise and Innovation Fund which will have a maximum limit of £5k. The criteria, eligibility and application process will be confirmed once the business grant fund programme is launched later this year.

Cllr Michael Holt, Babergh District Council's Cabinet Member for Economic Growth said: "This new business fund demonstrates our commitment to driving growth and innovation whilst also recognising our High Streets needs and encouraging sustainability and reducing energy costs in our districts, which will be exceedingly important following the impact of COVID-19 on our business landscape."

This new funding programme is entirely separate to the emergency help given to support individuals and businesses as part of the council's immediate response to COVID-19 and instead looks to help businesses plan and deliver their future growth.

The business grant programme reflects Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council's commitment to supporting small and medium sized businesses, which make up 99.6% of the registered businesses in the Districts, as was outlined in the Joint Open for Business Strategy adopted in February 2018.

For more information about Babergh District Council's business and economic development strategies, please visit: www.babergh.gov.uk