Central Beds Council launches Restart Grant Scheme to help local businesses with one-off payment

Help is available for 'non-essential retail' businesses and 'hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym' businesses
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More businesses will be able to access further grant funding from today as Central Bedfordshire Council launches its Restart Grant Scheme.

The Restart Grant Scheme enables rate-paying businesses, trading on April 1, 2021, to apply for a one-off payment to help them to reopen safely.

Grants of up to £6,000 will be paid to non-essential retail businesses and grants of up to £18,000 will be allocated to hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care and gym businesses.

CBC headquarters, Chicksands.CBC headquarters, Chicksands.
CBC headquarters, Chicksands.

Only certain non-essential retail businesses are eligible for the grant. There are specific exclusions, including food retailers, garden centres, vehicle repair and MOT centres, laundrettes and dry cleaners. Businesses can view the full Government guidance including eligibility and exclusions on the Government website.

Councillor David Shelvey, Executive Member Corporate Resources at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “This scheme offers a one-off grant of up to £6,000 for non-essential retail premises, and another of up to £18,000 for non-essential hospitality, leisure, personal care and gym premises. The amount of grant funding awarded is based on the rateable value and the type of business applying.

“If you own a business in the any of these sectors, we would encourage you to visit our website to see whether you are eligible to apply for this grant. All applications will be processed in order of when they are received, and we encourage businesses to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out.”

Businesses can apply for the Restart Grant Scheme via the Council’s website until June 30, 2021.