Eligible Island businesses in certain sectors will soon receive government Restart Grants to provide support as coronavirus restrictions are eased.
The Restart Grants for business ratepaying businesses were announced in the government budget of 3 March, and will begin from April.
Island businesses which have previously received a government COVID-19 business support grant should automatically be paid via their existing details held by the council. However, the council is seeking further clarification from the government on exactly which previous COVID-19 business support grants and periods qualify.
Businesses which have not previously received a government COVID-19 business support grant, but which are eligible under the scheme, will be able to apply via a form which will be available soon on the council’s website at www.iwight.com/covid19_businessadvice.
The Restart Grant support is aimed at non-essential retail, hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym businesses in England who receive a business rates bill.
The support will take the form of one-off grants via local councils:
- Up to £6,000 to non-essential retail business premises, to help them reopen safely.
- Up to £18,000 to hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym business premises, which may open later under plans set out in the government roadmap and will be more impacted by restrictions when they do reopen.
Businesses must have been trading on 1 April 2021 to be eligible to receive funding under this scheme. For more information visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-youre-eligible-for-a-coronavirus-restart-grant
