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Restart grants for business: how to apply

Publication date:

Businesses in St Albans District can apply for non-repayable funding to help them reopen safely following the national lockdown.

St Albans City and District Council is helping to distribute the Government’s Restart Grants.

These are available to businesses in the non-essential retail, hospitality, accommodation, leisure and personal care sectors.

Shops may qualify for grants of £2,667, £4,000 or £6,000 depending upon their rateable value.

Businesses from the other sectors – including pubs, restaurants, hairdressers and beauticians - can receive up to £18,000.

The grants are only for businesses that offer services which take place on the premises and pay business rates.

Businesses need to apply even if they have received a previous COVID recovery grant from the Council. They can do so online at www.stalbans.gov.uk/business-and-licensing .

Colm O’Callaghan, the Council’s Deputy Chief Executive (Finance and Legal), said:

Businesses face considerable financial challenges in reopening as the lockdown is eased.

They will, for example, have to bear the cost of making their premises COVID-secure and safe for people to use.

The restart grants are intended to help our non-essential shops, pubs and other enterprises get back on their feet and I would urge local businesses to apply and not miss out.

The Council will close applications for a separate scheme, the Additional Restrictions Grant, on Sunday 25 April.

Almost 1500 applications have been received with £3.5 million paid to around 500 local businesses.

This is in addition to £39.5 million paid out by the Council to business since April last year from other COVID-19 grant schemes.

Among those who qualified for the Additional Restrictions grant are taxi drivers, market traders, independent pubs and retailers and home-based businesses.

The scheme is discretionary and intended to support businesses that were not entitled to other COVID grants or required extra help due to substantial operating costs.

Businesses that have not previously applied and wish to make an application can check if they qualify at  www.stalbans.gov.uk/business-and-licensing.

Further support may be made available to local business in the future if more funding is received from the Government.

Contact for the media:
John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727-819533;  john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.