ST HELENS businesses are being encouraged to apply for a one-off financial package to support them to reopen when coronavirus restrictions ease.

The new national Restart Grant will replace the Local Restrictions Support Grant, St Helens Borough Council confirmed this week.

How will it work?

Payments for the Restart Grant will be based on the rateable value of the property and the sector in which the business operates.

Non-essential retail will receive grants of either £2,667, £4,000 or £6,000 whilst hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care, and gym sectors will be eligible for grants of either £8,000, £12,000 or £18,000.

Businesses eligible for the Restart Grant:

• should be trading and be liable for Business Rates at a property within the borough of St Helens as of April 1, 2021

• premises should predominantly provide in-person services to customers within the following sectors: non-essential retail; hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care, gym, or sports.

• have not exceeded 'state aid' subsidy allowance limits.

• are not in administration, insolvent or has a striking-off notice issued against it.

The Local Restrictions Support Grant

The Restart Grant will replace the Local Restrictions Support Grant.

The deadline to submit new applications to the Local Restrictions Support Grant is March 31, 2021.

Since October 2020, St Helens Borough Council has provided £11m of grants to businesses that have been required to close due to local and national restrictions

It is forecasted that the Local Support Grant will have an overall payout of between £1.1m and £1.3m across St Helens.

What the council is saying

Cllr Kate Groucutt, St Helens Borough Council's cabinet member for education, skills and business, said: “We know that during the pandemic our local businesses have had it extremely tough, and many may have slipped through the cracks when it has come to being eligible for support grants.

"I’m delighted that we can now offer this new grant to help support even more businesses to open up and get back to work as lockdown restrictions ease.

"We are committed to providing as much funding and support as possible to our local businesses in the St Helens borough.”

To find out more

For more information about the Restart Grant and how to apply, visit: https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/coronavirus/businesses-employers-and-jobs/restart-grant/

For information about support available to businesses locally, visit: https://www.sthelens.gov.uk/coronavirus/businesses-employers-and-jobs/