Additional Restrictions Grant scheme extended

Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) schemes have now been extended to assist more businesses in Tamworth which are suffering from the impact of the pandemic.

Under the new criteria, businesses which have suffered a significant fall in demand can apply for grant support under the ARG2 scheme.

The grants are expected to primarily take the form of discretionary grants to businesses that do not qualify under the Local Restrictions Support Grant scheme, closed (LRSG), which has now paid out a total of £2.6 million to applicants.

Those which can apply for the grant, according to Tamworth Borough Council, must meet all of the following criteria:

• The business was open and trading as usual on 4 November, 2020
• The business is not eligible to receive support from the Local Restrictions Support Grant (exclusions to this on the ARG-3 scheme only)
• The business is not in administration, insolvent or where a striking-off notice has been given.
• The business has been significantly financially impacted by local and national restrictions and the pandemic

This scheme covers from 5 November, to support businesses mandated to close during the national lockdown or local restrictions period.

Only businesses mandated to close in the retail, hospitality, leisure and personal care sectors will be eligible to claim the grant.

Businesses will receive a grant payment of £1,334.00 for each 28 day period that the business is mandated to close.

This includes businesses which supply sectors such as retail, hospitality, leisure and events sectors or businesses which are still operating, but with a significant reduction in demand which has resulted in a severe loss of sales or revenue due to social distancing restrictions imposed on their business.

Eligible businesses must be able to evidence a loss of turnover of more than 30 per cent, compared to the same trading period in 2019.

All businesses will receive a one off grant payment of £5,000.

Additional Restrictions Grant 3 (ARG-3) Localised Restrictions, offers additional help for businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors with a Rateable Value of £51,000 or above.

Tamworth Borough Council will identify those businesses which meet the above criteria from previous LRSG Closed applications, and will automatically award the additional grant payment.

The grant will be a one off payment of £25,000.

All ARG full eligibility and application forms can be found here: www.tamworth.gov.uk/additional-restrictions-grant

Applications for the LRSG closed scheme, which is for those who pay business rates for a premises only, are currently still available via the Tamworth Borough Council website at: www.tamworth.gov.uk/coronavirus-support-available .

Payments are being paid to businesses which are subject to national lockdown until 15 February.

Cllr Jeremy Oates, Cabinet member for Heritage and Growth, said: “This pandemic continues to take a huge toll on our local economy and businesses and they need every bit of help they can get.

“We know businesses have been desperately waiting for these funds and we 'll be looking to get money out of the door and into bank accounts where it 's needed as soon as possible. There 's a lot of work that has to go into setting these processes up, to make sure they are robust and able to get funding to those who need it."