New Grant Opens for Businesses 27/11/2020
This new grant is called the Additional Restrictions Grant. It is for those businesses in South Hams and West Devon which were not forced to close, or did not qualify for the earlier grant, but were significantly impacted under the national restrictions in November.
There were many businesses, which did not qualify for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG), that was available during the national lockdown. This is because many of them were not rateable businesses or because they were not on the list of businesses that were asked to close in November, and therefore did not qualify for the grant.
If a business that did not get the Local Restrictions Support Grant can now demonstrate that their business has been adversely impacted by the national restrictions, and they have lost trade or turnover of over 50%, they could now be eligible for the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG).
Cllr Judy Pearce, Leader of South Hams District Council said: “I am pleased to be able to announce the opening of this grant. With any grant, there has to be some qualifying criteria and unfortunately, there are always those who fall between the gaps. This grant serves to fill some of those gaps left by the earlier Local Restrictions Support Grant and enables those businesses which can evidence that they have been severely impacted get help.”
Cllr Neil Jory Leader of West Devon Borough Council Said: “Giving our businesses support during this difficult time is so important to us. We aim to get these schemes open and available as quickly as possible.
“When you do apply, please fill in the forms as clearly and as carefully as you can. The difference between this grant and the earlier LRSG is that the businesses which apply, must be able to evidence that they have been severely impacted.
“Please clearly signpost us to that evidence in your application, it should be evidence of your income from the previous two Novembers compared with this year.”
The Councils encourage applications from businesses both within, and which supply, retail, hospitality and leisure, including the events sector.
Businesses, which will not be eligible for the Additional Restrictions Grant, include properties that ‘home share’ (such as Airbnb), second homes and businesses that have already received the earlier, Local Restriction Grant.
To apply for the grant and see a full list of the eligibility criteria visit the Councils’ websites:
South Hams : www.southhams.gov.uk/ARG
West Devon : www.westdevon.govk/ARG
Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis. In the application it should be shown that the decreased level of trade, at least 50% compared to a more representative time of trading, is a direct consequence of the national restrictions.
The ARG will not be paid to the following:
• Properties that “home share” (such as airBnB) and advertise solely through home sharing websites will not be eligible for this fund.
• Second homes will not be eligible for this fund.
• To ensure that the limited funding is able to help as many distinct businesses as possible, businesses with common directors but single premises will only be eligible for a single grant.
• Landlords of properties where they are not occupying them directly themselves for trading business purposes will not be eligible for this fund.
• Businesses that have chosen to close but not been required to will not be eligible for this grant. This includes business premises which were already closed directly before the restrictions were imposed.
• Businesses which have already reached the State Aid limit. • Businesses which are subject to insolvency, a bankruptcy order or striking off action are not eligible for funding under this scheme.