The deadline for a grant scheme to help firms affected by COVID-19 restrictions is fast approaching and businesses in Allerdale are urged to submit their application as soon as possible.
The Additional Restrictions Grant scheme is designed to help those businesses unable to benefit from the Local Restrictions Support Grant which is available to those who pay business rates, and were forced to close due to the national coronavirus restrictions in November and early December.
The Additional Restrictions Grant is funded by the government but allows Allerdale Borough Council, which is administering it, some discretion on the eligibility criteria.
Businesses must make their applications to the council no later than 5pm on December 15.
Applications should be made via the online form at https://www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/coronavirus/coronavirus-business-grants-claims/.
Grants of between £1,334 and £3,000 are available for each four-week period of restrictions, depending on the fixed premises costs of the business or organisation.
The scheme is available to help those businesses that:
- are forced to close, but have no rateable value,
- or those which – while not legally forced to close – are nonetheless severely impacted by the restrictions put in place to control the spread of COVID-19 such as businesses mainly supplying others that have been mandated to close, or can demonstrate a loss of income as a result of this latest lockdown of at least 50 per cent.
The council said it aimed to process applications as soon as possible.
Anyone with any queries should speak to the council’s customer service team on 0303 123 1702.