COVID-19 Grant Funding Schemes
Support for businesses during lockdown
The Government has announced a set of business grants for businesses who must close during the national lockdown.
While these grants will be administered by Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council, the details and criteria of the schemes have been defined by the government.
Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG)
The Local Restrictions Support Grant is available to businesses who have been instructed to close by the Government as part of the Covid-19 lockdown measures.
This includes:
- Non-essential retail
- Leisure
- Personal care
- Sports facilities, and hospitality businesses
The Government has produced a list of businesses which must close as part of lockdown measures.
To qualify for this grant, businesses must have been:
- Open as usual in week commencing 2nd November 2020 and providing in-person services to customers from the above premises.
- Liable for paying Business Rates as at 4th November 2020.
- Required to close due to Government lockdown restrictions (non-essential retail, leisure, personal care, sports facilities, and hospitality businesses).
Businesses required to close in England due to national restrictions will be eligible for the following payment for the 28 day period of national lockdown:
| Properties with a rateable value of... | A Grant of... |
|---|---|
| £15,000 or under | £1,334 |
| Between £15,000- £51,000 | £2,000 |
| £51,000 or over | £3,000 |
Businesses closed to customers but offering a click and collect or delivery service are still eligible for the grant.
Businesses must complete the LRSG application form to receive a grant. Successful applicants will be paid directly into a business bank account as soon as possible.
In order to complete the application form, you will need to have your Business Rate account number. You can find this on your Business Rate bill or the letter you have received from the Council highlighting these grants, you will also need a bank statement.
Please ensure you provide an up to date bank statement for the account to which the grant will be paid. The bank statement must include your name and bank details so that we are able to match the details to your Local Restrictions Support Grant application.
Apply for the Local Restriction Support Grant: Babergh District Council
Apply for the Local Restriction Support Grant: Mid Suffolk District Council
Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG)
The Additional Restrictions Grant is open to businesses who were trading up to and including 4 November, who were instructed to close because of the national lockdown or can demonstrate that they have been significantly financially impacted by the National Coronavirus restriction measures.
Businesses that trade in either Babergh or Mid Suffolk will need to submit evidence that they meet the criteria. This includes:
- A brief statement of the impact of this national lockdown on the business including detail of significant financial impact
- Current business insurance
- Confirmation of State Aid compliance
- Comparable evidence of business turnover for the period 1 September – 30 November in both 2019 and 2020
Read the full policy and criteria before applying for the Additional Restrictions Grant. Applications must be submitted by Friday 18 December.
Apply for Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils’ Additional Restrictions Grant
Businesses required to remain closed since March 2020
Some businesses, such as nightclubs and adult entertainment venues, have been required by Government to remain closed since March 2020. In addition to receiving support under the Local Restrictions Support Grant outlined above, these businesses will also receive a small amount of funding for the period 1 to 4 November 2020. This is because on 1 November 2020, the Government introduced a separate grant funding scheme for this sector.
Ratepayers for these businesses should apply for the Local Restrictions Support Grant as usual, using the form above. The council will then contact them to arrange for the additional funding to be granted.
Nightclubs that reopened in a different form (for example as late night bars) are not eligible for this funding.