NEW grants are being made available to businesses who have been affected by the second national lockdown.

Two national business grants, the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG (Closed) Addendum) and the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG), have been made available by the Government to help businesses through these difficult times.

The Government has asked district councils across Somerset, who are closest to their communities, to issue this funding.

These include Sedgemoor District Council, Somerset West and Taunton Council, South Somerset District Council and Mendip District Council.

Each local authority across the country has been awarded the additional funding as a one-off payment to support businesses through national lockdowns and any future tiered restrictions.

Cllr Gill Slocombe, portfolio holder for Inward Investment and Growth at Sedgemoor District Council, said: “We understand this is once again an incredibly difficult and challenging time for our local businesses and we are pleased that we are able to help some of them with these grants. “We do recognise that not every business will be eligible and that for some the grant may not go far enough but our officers are here to offer advice and support where they can so please keep in touch via our website and social media.”

So what grants are available?

The Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) supports businesses that were open as usual, providing services in person to customers from their business premises, but which were then required by law to close for 28 days due to national lockdown restrictions imposed by government.

They include non-essential retail, leisure, personal care, sports facilities and hospitality businesses. A full list of businesses which must close by law is now available online.

During the period of 5th November to 2nd December 2020, a single grant to cover the 28 day period will be paid to each eligible business. The grant amounts will be fixed. Businesses with more than one qualifying property will receive more than one grant.

If your business is eligible and has a property with a rateable value of £15,000 or under, you will receive a cash grant of £1,334 per 28-day qualifying restriction period.

If your business is eligible and has a property with a rateable value of above £15,000 and below £51,000, you will receive a cash grant of £2,000 per 28-day qualifying period.

If your business is eligible and has a property with a rateable value of £51,000 or above, you will receive a cash grant of £3,000 per 28-day qualifying period.

Grants will be based on the rateable value of the property on the first full day of the national lockdown restrictions. Once government guidance has been fully assessed, councils will make an online application form available. Please check our district council website regularly.

Businesses are not automatically eligible for this grant just because they received a Small Business Grant last time. This grant is much more restrictive than before, as it is only for businesses legally obliged to close.

The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) is available, particularly for non-business rate payers who have been ordered to close or businesses that have been severely impacted by the lockdown period but do not have to necessarily close by law.

Each local authority across the country has been awarded this additional funding as a one-off payment to support businesses through national lockdowns and any future tiered restrictions.

Once full details from government regarding eligibility and other criteria have been received, councils will make an online application form available and further information and guidance will be provided.

Cllr Marcus Kravis, Executive Member for Economic Development at SWT, said: “We were able to ensure that many eligible businesses particularly our small independent businesses and organisations, received the grants they were entitled to during the last lockdown period.

“These grants, which are non-repayable, can provide a vital lifeline for businesses. We are pleased to be able to deliver them once again and I would encourage businesses across the district to apply for the help that’s available.”

And Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Enterprise and Finance at Mendip District Council, Cllr Barry O’Leary, said: “Grants have proved to be a lifeline for local businesses where we all live.

“We want eligible business to step forward and apply for the help that’s out there during this second lockdown. We will do all we can to encourage this, so that our city, towns and villages recover quickly, to support not just a fairer and thriving district, but one that aims to ensure no business is left behind .”

To find out more about support for businesses in your district follow these links: For Sedgemoor visit www.sedgemoor.gov.uk/COVID19Biz

For Mendip visit www.mendip.gov.uk/businessgrants

For Somerset West and Taunton visit www.somersetwestandtaunton.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-and-information/

For South Somerset visit www.southsomerset.gov.uk/life-events/coronavirus-support/coronavirus-business-support/

For more information about Government grants which are available for businesses visit www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-your-business-is-eligible-for-a-coronavirus-grant-due-to-national-restrictions-for-closed-businesses