Gloucestershire businesses will receive a share of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s lockdown grants.
A share of £4.6 billion in grants will be coming to the Gloucestershire businesses hit by the most recent UK-wide lockdown – providing a silver lining to the start of January 2021’s otherwise gloomy news from Government.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed the money, in the form of one-off grants worth up to £9,000, was aimed at those worst-hit in the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors.
Businesses are now poised and awaiting more information. With local authorities in Gloucestershire confirming that they will be delivering the much-needed cash locally – and are poised, ready and awaiting instructions.
‘We are currently clarifying the government guidance and will publish details of tier three and four and January 2021 national lockdown grant schemes available to businesses here, including details of eligibility and how to apply. Please keep checking for updates,’ a statement on the Gloucester City Council website said, which is also reflected across local authorities websites across Gloucestershire.
David Owen, chief executive of Gloucestershire business group GFirst LEP, which together with the Growth Hub network has been at the forefront of delivering support for the county’s economy since the pandemic emerged, said: ‘We’ll be working with partners to do everything we can to support businesses and individuals during the next few tough months – and making the case for the right support to protect our Gloucestershire economy.’
According to the Government the one-off top-ups will be granted to closed businesses as follows:
• £4,000 for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or under
• £6,000 for businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000
• £9,000 for businesses with a rateable value of over £51,000
• Any business which is legally required to close, and which cannot operate effectively remotely, is eligible for a grant
Good news for Gloucestershire businesses also included the extension of the furlough scheme until the end of April 2021.
The extra £4.6 billion comes on top of the £594 million discretionary fund also made available to support other impacted businesses.
And it is on top of the addition £1.1 billion further discretionary grant funding for Local Authorities, Local Restriction Support Grants worth up to £3,000 a month and extension of furlough scheme.
All of the local authorities are planning to publish information on how businesses can access the money on their dedicated website pages as soon as they have that detail.
SoGlos will publish more details as soon as more information is available.
By Andrew Merrell
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