Eligible businesses in South Lakeland which were required to close or experienced hardship/loss of income during the November lockdown are being urged to apply soon to the two support schemes set up to help them.
South Lakeland District Council is administering the government’s Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed Businesses) and Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) schemes.
The ARG has an application deadline of 21 December.
Councillor Robin Ashcroft, SLDC portfolio holder for Economy, Culture and Leisure, said: “We know how urgently needed these grants are to businesses affected by the second national lockdown and staff have been working hard to process, validate and pay out these grants as quickly and efficiently as possible.
“If you think you could be eligible for either a Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed Businesses) or Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) then please go to our website, check the criteria and get your application in.”
The Additional Restrictions Grant is a one-off discretionary grant scheme for businesses forced to close but which have no rateable value, or those which – while not legally forced to close – were nonetheless severely impacted.
The Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed Businesses) scheme is for businesses required to close due to the second national Coronavirus lockdown.
Business that received a small business or retail, hospitality and leisure grant earlier in the year were emailed with a link to a pre-populated application form but other eligible businesses can use the application form on our website.
Business legally required to close due to the Tier 2 restrictions which came into force in Cumbria on December 2 are eligible for support through an updated Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) scheme.
Details of the grant process are being finalised.
Pubs not allowed to open will also be eligible to receive a one-off payment of £1,000 on top of the Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed).
Meanwhile, a new Local Restrictions Support Grant (Open) scheme will apply to businesses which are severely impacted by the current Tier 2 Restrictions but not required to close.
Updated information about all SLDC admininstered support schemes can be found at: www.southlakeland.gov.uk/business-and-trade/business-support-coronavirus-covid-19/
More details on these schemes and other support available – including business rate relief, free support and advice available to businesses in South Lakeland – can also be found on the same page.
