£4.5 million awarded in Restart Grants to Charnwood businesses as more companies are urged to apply

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Around £4.5 million has been paid to nearly 600 businesses in Charnwood by the borough council under the Covid-19 Restart Grant scheme, but more companies are being urged to come forward.

The Restart Grant scheme supports businesses that offer in-person services, have a business rates account and have been forced to close under Covid restrictions. Examples of the types of businesses include pubs, cafes and restaurants, hair salons and venues.

Unlike some other grants where the Council has been able to make automatic payments to local companies, the Restart Grant requires all companies to fill in an application form.

More information is available on the Council website, visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/restart_grants

Cllr Tom Barkley, lead member for finance at the Council, said: “We have been working flat out since the start of the pandemic to get Government financial support to local businesses quickly and securely. “I am pleased we have been able to issue £4.5 million under this scheme but I would urge all local businesses to check if they are eligible and apply. It means the Council has distributed around £54 million of Government funding to around 3,000 local companies in Charnwood since the start of the pandemic. We have worked hard to get the grants to local businesses to help them protect their livelihoods so as we move into more positive times, people still have jobs and we can start rebuilding the local economy to make it stronger than ever.”

Restart Grants range from £2,667 to £18,000 depending on several factors. For more information, visit: www.charnwood.gov.uk/restart_grants

Applications are also now being taken for a Local Discretionary Grant Scheme.

The scheme is available to:

  • small and micro suppliers to the retail, leisure, hospitality, events, and accommodation sectors, which usually derive at least 40 per cent of their revenues from these sectors
  • mobile/home-based businesses that do not have a business rates account, that were forced to stop trading under the previous restrictions

For more information and to apply, visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/local_discretionary_grant_scheme