Businesses hit by lockdown to receive grants this week

Financial help for local companies forced to close by the national coronavirus lockdown is being distributed from this week.

Local Restrictions Support Grants worth £3 million are now being paid to eligible Bury businesses hit by the lockdown measures.

These grants provide financial help to firms required to close during local and national lockdowns, including pubs, betting shops and soft play centres. The latest national measures affect non-essential retail, hospitality venues, accommodation, leisure and sports facilities, entertainment venues and personal care facilities.

To see if you are eligible for a grant, and to apply for one, go to the council’s website here: https://www.bury.gov.uk/covid19grants

The council is also finalising plans to distribute Additional Restrictions Grants, of up to £4 million, to businesses which have been severely affected by the lockdown rather than closed.

The council has drawn up a list of priority areas for the first tranche of these grants:

• Bury and Radcliffe market traders;
• Companies within the events sector;
• Companies in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors - who are legally required to close, occupy a rateable premise, but do not pay rates;
• Companies whose main service is supplying businesses legally required to close in the retail, hospitality and leisure sector; and
• Childcare organisations within commercial settings.

Councillor David Jones, cabinet member for communities and emergency planning, said: “Many businesses, particularly those in the hospitality sector and those classed as non-essential, have been severely hit by trading restrictions that stretch back to March.

“We need to do all we can to support our local companies who are facing unprecedented challenges. That’s why we have set up a special team to co-ordinate the national, regional and local responses to this emergency.”

• The council’s dedicated Bury Means Business team is here to help all businesses with advice and help during the pandemic: go to https://burymeansbusiness.bury.gov.uk/ for more details.

ENDS

Press release issued: 24 November 2020.