Conservative led Wiltshire Council is reminding businesses in the county that time is running out for them to apply for COVID-19 business grants and rate relief schemes.
Applications for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG) and the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG), also known as the Omicron Discretionary Grant (ODG) scheme, close on 28 February.
Applications for the COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) rate relief funding will close on 31 March. Eligible businesses are encouraged to get their applications in as soon as possible to avoid missing out.
The OHLG is a one-off grant of up to £6,000 that is available to rateable businesses in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors only, with the value of grants depending on the business's rateable value. Businesses are reminded that they need to submit evidence to support their application via a bank statement that confirms their details and shows trading activity for the business, covering a period of at least two weeks that includes 30 December 2021.
Businesses that can evidence that they have been impacted by the Omicron-wave of COVID-19, can apply for the ARG. This grant is open to both rate-paying and non-rate-paying businesses in sectors that were most impacted by the changes in consumer expenditure in the run-up to Christmas and the new year - particularly in sectors such as hospitality, personal care, accommodation, leisure, gyms, sports and travel agencies.
The CARF is aimed at rate-paying businesses that have been adversely affected by the pandemic and have been unable to adapt to that impact. The relief is available to rate-paying businesses that have not yet had any rate relief and meet the eligibility requirements. It is not available to businesses that were eligible for the retail, hospitality and leisure relief or the nursery relief, and it also does not apply to landlords of unoccupied properties.
Conservative Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said:
This is the last chance for Wiltshire businesses to access this vital grant funding and rate relief, so I'd urge all eligible businesses that haven't yet applied to do so now.
We've paid out more than £176 million in business grants throughout the pandemic, but we want to add to that to ensure that Wiltshire businesses are getting the support they need.
This is significant funding that will help businesses as they continue to recover from the pandemic. However, not all businesses are eligible, so I'd urge people to check our website and ensure they provide the full evidence and information required before applying.
We'll continue to do all we can to support Wiltshire businesses as we all adjust to life after the pandemic.
To apply, businesses should read the application guidance, and carefully complete the online form. It is vitally important that applications are submitted correctly to allow them to be processed.
Applications for the OHLG and ARG are open at Coronavirus business support grants; to apply for the CARF, people should go to COVID-19 additional relief fund (CARF).
