Letter to Business Owners from Folkestone and Hythe District Council

"Dear Business Owner

I wanted to provide an update on some of the key initiatives to support businesses in our district:

• Coronavirus Business Grant Scheme for businesses in Folkestone & Hythe District - all businesses that are eligible for these grants have been contacted by our Business Rates Team by email or post. To access this grant some details are required to make these payments, so please see the link below to where this information can be provided on an electronic form. Our systems require software changes to make these payments, so please bear with us while these are being implemented. However, please be assured that we are working as hard as possible to get these grants to you as soon as we can. https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/business-grant-fund
• Local Telephone Help Line for Folkestone & Hythe businesses - the council has part-funded a dedicated business support telephone helpline which is being run through the Kent & Medway Growth Hub by Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce (KICC). The helpline number is 0333 3602300 and will be open 8:30am - 6.30pm Monday to Friday.
• Folkestone & Hythe High Street Fund - launched in Oct 2019, this grant scheme supports improvements and encourages new and innovative ideas to help our high streets adapt and thrive in the future. The fund is still open for applications but these will not be reviewed until September. The Economic Development team will not be able to offer support in developing project ideas during this time, but all approved projects will continue to be processed.
• Independent Retail & Hospitality Business Support Programme - this support programme covers all elements of a business review, including how to best use social media and/or other platforms to continue to trade during these difficult times. Any businesses in Folkestone & Hythe interested in accessing this support, please email economy@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk.
• As part of this initiative a webinar is to be held explaining two new initiatives that have come out of the current covid-19 situation which are designed to help local businesses - Ben Pearce from digitalbeans, a leading digital agency based in Canterbury, who has launched a FREE online store solution: https://yourlocal.delivery/, designed to support local businesses in Kent and Floortje Hoette, Chief Executive of Produced in Kent, who has created a new directory website Help Kent Buy Local https://helpkentbuylocal.co.uk/. The webinar details are Friday 3rd April, 2-3pm; Help Kent Buy Local; https://zoom.us/j/832545779?pwd=QzIzNldoSWV0TlZ5RXptWXJtRWhkQT09; Password: 739080

For further details on all of the items mentioned above and more information that you might be interested in, please see our www.folkestone.works website."