More local businesses in the county could benefit from financial support as Wiltshire Council launches its new Additional Restrictions Grant scheme.
This cash injection comes after the council received over £10million of additional Government funding to support local businesses. This new grant scheme is a discretionary scheme that will help those businesses required to close, or that have been severely affected by the national restrictions and are outside of the business rate system.
Split into two phases, this scheme will initially provide quick financial support for businesses during the current national restrictions. These businesses could receive a grant worth up to £3,000 to help them cope with the challenges presented by Covid-19. Grants will be awarded on a simple employee ranking:
• £500 where the grant applicant has 1 or no employees, such as a director paid by dividends
• £2,000 where the grant applicant has 2 to 9 employees
• £3,000 where the grant applicant has 10 or more employees.
These grants will be awarded on a rolling basis with successful applicants receiving payments in November & December 2020.
As part of the second phase, a review of the scheme will be carried out in January 2021 to see whether further grant payments could be awarded on a rolling basis in the new year.
Applications for the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme must be submitted by 5pm on Friday 18 December 2020 via the online application form. Applications will then be reviewed and assessed, with grants being paid as quickly as possible.
Leader of Wiltshire Council, cllr Philip Whitehead said, “We are pleased to be launching this additional scheme to help more businesses in the county access much-needed financial support. This scheme aims to support those businesses which are not eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant scheme and, so far, we have paid out over £590,000 to nearly 390 businesses through this scheme.
“We would strongly encourage businesses to complete the online application form and provide all the supporting documents required, to avoid any delays with assessing your application.
“The months of January and February are always a challenging period for the retail sector in particular and this is even more so with the pandemic. Our review in January will help us target support to businesses who are likely to struggle in the new year.
“We know how difficult this year has been and the significant impact Covid-19 has had on local businesses, and we are committed to doing all we can to ensure our businesses and local economy are supported long-term.”
Full guidance for applications and the online application form for the Additional Restrictions Grant scheme is available at: www.wiltshire.gov.uk/ business-advice-support-covid19-grants.
