New round of grants for businesses hit by Covid-19

More cash support to help local companies flourish after the coronavirus pandemic has been approved by Bury Council.

A third round of Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) will focus on helping firms to reopen in a Covid-safe way and promote their businesses to bring in more visitors and customers.

Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, leader of Bury Council, said: “Our local economy is vital to the health of the whole borough, and we’ve already distributed around £61 million of Covid cash support to businesses.

“Now we have a clear timetable for the unlocking of the country, this latest round of grants places the emphasis on the safe reopening of key businesses in the borough’s town centres, supporting them to grow in the post-pandemic recovery and encouraging everyone to shop local.”

The new funding sources are:

Safe Reopening Fund (£8-18k).

This fund will be available to businesses with fewer than 50 employees, focusing primarily focus on the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors or businesses hit by the closure of these sectors. Grants will assist businesses with items such as: buying new stock; deep cleaning premises; purchase of PPE and signage; Covid-safe seating areas; temperature testing for customers; entry monitoring; marketing and publicity; and separation screens.

Recovery Expertise Fund (up to £5k)

This will support small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) to bring in specialist support to help them grow, such as: online marketing and retail support; human resources expertise; legal advice; contactless payments; and cyber security measures.

Town and District Centre Independent Retail Support Grant (£4-9k)

To support independent retailers in town and district centres that have lost customers as a direct result of Covid restrictions. The fund will be for businesses that have a rateable value but were not ordered to close.

Tourism and Culture Fund (£10-25k)

This fund is aimed at businesses/organisations employing between 5 and 50 people that are important in attracting visitors and tourists and are key to our town centre recovery plans. This is to cover loss of income from ticket sales and/or entrance fees because of having been closed due to Covid restrictions.

Community Facilities, Social Enterprises and Charitable Organisations Fund (£4-9k)

This will support community centres, social clubs and charitable organisations that have not been able to access Local Restrictions Support Grants but can demonstrate financial loss due to Covid restrictions.

In addition:

An independent ‘special cases’ panel will consider awarding grants to businesses which can show merit but have not been eligible for support. This panel will also oversee a one-off ‘special circumstances’ allocation to the East Lancashire Railway, which is deemed crucial to tourism and the town’s economy and identity, along with a structured recovery plan.

The Key Sector Fund will continue, with payments being doubled (to between £20 and £50k) to major employers in the borough whose survival is crucial to the borough’s economy and jobs.

More details about the Phase 3 ARG grants will be posted on the Bury Means Business website: https://burymeansbusiness.bury.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=15892

For general enquiries about ARG, email investin@bury.gov.uk

Queries about existing applications should be emailed to ARGrant@bury.gov.uk

ENDS

Press release issued: 25 March 2021.