Grants and Funding

The scheme is called the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant and is administered by business rate billing authorities in England.

The scheme provides support to hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses, in recognition that the rise of the Omicron variant means that some businesses are likely to struggle over the coming weeks.

The primary principle of the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme is to support businesses that offer in-person services, where the main service and activity takes place in a fixed rate-paying premises, in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors.

This support will take the form of a one-off grant funding scheme. Funding to be made available in Financial Year 2021-2022 and can be used in Financial Year 21/22 only.

Businesses seeking information should refer to the Government’s business support website: https://www.businesssupport.gov.uk/

More information on Grants can be found here

Mid Sussex are currently considering a New Additional Discretionary Grant.

Local Authorities are encouraged to focus their support on businesses severely impacted by the rise of the Omicron variant.

Local Authorities are encouraged to support businesses from all sectors that may have been severely impacted by restrictions, or by the Omicron variant, including those outside of the business rates system. These may include, but are not limited to: hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care, the travel and tourism sector, including group travel, travel agents and tour operators, coach operators, wedding industries, nightclubs, theatres, events industries, wholesalers, English language schools, breweries, freelance and mobile businesses (including caterers, events, hair, beauty and wedding related businesses), gyms, and other businesses that may have not received other grant funding. There is no restriction on the number of grants a business may receive, subject to subsidy limit.

More information on Grants can be found here

Mid Sussex District Council’s Community and Economic Development Grants aim to support local businesses, voluntary, community or not-for-profit organisations to provide activities and projects that add social and economic value to their communities and which help improve the quality of life in Mid Sussex.

Projects need to demonstrate that they work towards our priority areas including:

Community Safety

• Safer communities
• Domestic abuse

Health & Wellbeing

• Social isolation and loneliness
• Mental health
• Health inequalities
• Dementia
• Inclusive sports
• Young people

Community Resilience

• Volunteering in the community
• Social inclusion, community cohesion and integration
• Youth and/or family focused interventions
• Rural resilience
• Community Based Environmental Projects

Further information can be found here

These grants are administered by the Community Services team culture@midsussex.gov.uk

The council holds a Section 106 Fund which can be used to support capital projects concerning works to:

• Community buildings
• Recreation facilities (play areas and sports)
• Public artworks

This money often has restrictions attached and can only be used for specific locations.

Further information can be found here

These grants are administered by the Community Services team culture@midsussex.gov.uk

As part of a programme of support for our local independent retailers Mid Sussex District Council is currently accepting applications for our Independent Retailers Grant Scheme.

This funding is available to support independent retailers (less than 5 stores) in Mid Sussex to make improvements to their premises and / or retail operations.

These grants are part of a package of support for independent retailers including FREE training via the West Sussex Retail Hub.  It is a requirement of the grant scheme that applicants have engaged with the online training via the West Sussex Retail Hub and completed at least one of the training modules prior to application.

The grant available will be up to 75% of eligible costs, to a maximum contribution of £4,000.

Funding is limited with applications open until 28th January

https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/licensing-business/independent-retailers-support-programme-2021-2022/

Up to £7,500 no match funding for Research & Development support on innovation projects for SMEs.

From Brighton & Sussex Universities through RISE www.rise-innovation.co.uk (part funded by West Sussex Districts & Boroughs).

Projects could include feasibility study, research, technology road maps, proof of concept, prototypes.

The Invest4 Grant Fund has been created to help new businesses to start-up, and to help growing businesses to grow more quickly.

Open to most business owners and start-up founders who are based in the coast-to-capital area and over 90% of those who apply are given a cash award.

Grants of between £1,500 and £170,000 are awarded - the average award is £14,500.

Match funded, the Invest4 Fund will pay 40% of the project cost.

https://www.chi.ac.uk/collaborate/business-hothouse/invest4-grant-funding/

Grants of up to £10,000 for energy efficiency and low carbon product/service development.

Businesses can obtain further help, advice and register by contacting the Green Growth Platform