Businesses urged to apply for discretionary grant funding

BUSINESSES across the borough of Barrow are being urged to check their eligibility for discretionary grant funding to help support them through the coronavirus restrictions. The extra funding is…

BUSINESSES across the borough of Barrow are being urged to check their eligibility for discretionary grant funding to help support them through the coronavirus restrictions.

The extra funding is available for firms affected by the second and current lockdown, as well as during the period of Tier 4 restrictions, that did not meet the criteria for other grants.

The money is a one-off cash sum which does not have to be paid back.

Applications must be submitted before the closing date of midnight on Monday, February 15.

Councillor Ann Thomson, the leader of Barrow Borough Council, said: “These grants exist to help businesses that have been affected by the restrictions we’ve been under as a borough as a result of Covid-19.

“We know things have been really tough for everyone. The discretionary funding is there to help - please check the criteria and apply if you think you’re eligible.”

The Additional Restrictions Grant will provide a one-off payment for businesses that were not eligible for the Coronavirus Restrictions Grant (Closed).

Three levels of grant payment will be available. For businesses eligible for business rates, the total payable for Lockdown 2 and the period covering Tier 4 and Lockdown 3, is:

  • For businesses with a rateable value of £1 to £15,000 will receive a grant of £3,573.21
  • For businesses with a rateable value of £15,001 to £50,999 will receive a grant of £5,357.14
  • For businesses with a rateable value of £51,000+ will receive a grant of £8,035.71

Where eligible businesses fall outside the business rates system, the number of employees will be used instead.

The total payable is:

  • Micro - 1 to 9 employees, £3,573.21
  • Small - 10 - 49 employees, £5,357.14
  • Medium - 50 to 250 employees, £8,035.71

Taxi drivers licensed within the borough can apply for a grant of £562.50

Applications are being processed by Barrow Borough Council’s service partner, Liberata, with businesses advised that email correspondence will carry a Liberata address and that this is safe and secure.

Businesses that have already received an initial payment from the Additional Restrictions Grant fund will be contacted regarding a top-up to cover the most recent lockdown period.

Councillor Thomson added: “No-one should be put off by the application process itself. It doesn’t take very long. There is a form available online and a list of the information needed by the team.

“Once all the required information is submitted, payments are transferred to the business’s account within 14 days.

“Please don’t pass up the chance to claim this grant for your business if you are eligible. It’s there to help ease the financial pressure brought about by this terrible pandemic.”

Additional information on eligibility criteria and details on how to apply are available here

Businesses across the borough that are eligible for other business grants are being contacted to advise of the information required to enable transfer of funds.