Calderdale Council estimates that 1,250 businesses have been affected by the Boxing Day floods. These businesses can apply to the Council for financial support to help them get back on their feet.
Businesses that are eligible for the grant are small to medium enterprises, charities and other third sector organisations.
A grant of up to £2,500 per business is available to help them open up and start trading again after damage caused by the Boxing Day storm. The funding covers costs such as clean up equipment (generators, dehumidifiers, lighting, brushes etc), building and stock security, IT and electricity, temporary accommodation, specialist advice and marketing to keep customers informed.
Businesses can apply for the grant through the application form on the Council’s website – go to www.calderdale.gov.uk, click on the emergency flooding information box and read the flooding FAQs.
The Council’s business support team is delivering the form to firms in affected areas, and hard copies are available in the flood relief hubs in:
- Todmorden (Tod Community College,Burnley Road, OL14 7BX)
- Hebden Bridge (Hebden Bridge Town Hall, St George’s St, HX7 7BY)
- Mytholmroyd (above the Library, Cragg Road, HX7 5HR) and
- Sowerby Bridge ( Sowerby Bridge Leisure Centre, Station Road HX6 3AB).
Business team members are on hand to answer questions at these hubs.
The Council aims to pay the grants within five days of receiving a completed application form. Grants can be paid against items that have already been purchased (after the date of the flood) and items which the business has not yet purchased. 100% of the grant will be paid up front, and each business will need to provide evidence of expenditure at a later date. Grants should be used for items which have not, and will not, be covered by insurance.
The Council knows that for many businesses, £2,500 will not cover the full cost of the damage. It will be seeking further support from the government and the Leeds City Region, particularly for businesses substantially affected by the floods.
For more information about the grant, please email business@calderdale.gov.uk or call 01422 392222.
In addition to the grant, flood-affected businesses are entitled to 100 per cent relief from their business rates for a minimum of three months (or until the business restarts trading from the property if this is longer than three months). The rateable value of the property on the day of the impact must have been less than £10 million. The scheme does not cover properties that were empty at the time of the flooding.
To apply for business rates relief, please email business.rates@calderdale.gov.uk or call 01422 393699, quoting your property reference number.
The above financial support is intended to help get businesses back on their feet in the short-term. The Council is looking into the provision of longer term support in terms of preventative / resilience funding.