From October 1, Bolton businesses can apply for the new Covid-19 Local Restriction Support Grant, providing them with £1,000 or £1,500 every three weeks while Bolton’s restrictions remain in place.
The grant aims to help those businesses hardest hit by the local Covid-19 restrictions such as cafes, bars and restaurants.
The eligibility criteria is limited to just those business rate paying businesses providing in-person services from their business premises, and that have been forced to close for at least three weeks continuously due to local restrictions.
The full details are at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-local-restrictions-support-grant-guidance-for-local-authorities
Eligible businesses must apply via the online application form which is available at www.businessbolton.org/localrestrictionsgrant
Grant payments can be made to businesses from 1st October 2020 and the applications will be administered by Bolton Council’s Business Rates Team. Any enquiries should be emailed to businessbolton@bolton.gov.uk.
Cllr David Greenhalgh, Leader of Bolton Council, said: “This is an incredibly challenging time for those businesses who have been put into lockdown and have their livelihoods put under threat.
“I will continue to speak out against these centrally imposed restrictions and the lack of parity with boroughs whose rates have far surpassed the rates to which we had our hospitality sector shut down.
“This new Local Restriction Support Grant is welcome and we will get this out to businesses as soon as we can. We’ve got teams ready to administer and get the grants out.
“But I will continue to press Government at the highest level for additional financial support for the sector as a major priority.”