Kaipara District Council has received more than 44 applications for grants from businesses, community, and sporting groups in genuine need of financial assistance as a result of Covid-19.
Last month, Kaipara District councillors voted for $200,000 to be made available for the hospitality sector or those who require health, food or alcohol licences to operate to access up to $1500 to offset licence fees.
Up to $500 to offset rates and $1000 maximum to seek professional advice, such as accounting, human resources or business mentoring to help improve operations, or resolve issues resulting from the business shutdown, has also been made available.
The grants are intended to make it easier to return to operations by offsetting some of the costs they are facing in dealing with the council.
The council has also established a Covid-19 Agility Fund of $325,000 to provide a grant for rates to community and sports groups up to $500 and up to $1000 for professional advice such as accounting, human resources or business mentoring to help improve operations (up to a maximum of 50 applicants).