JUST days remain for businesses across Barrow to apply for discretionary grant funding to help support them through restrictions caused by coronavirus.

The Additional Restrictions Grant is a one-off cash payment for businesses impacted by the ongoing pandemic that don’t qualify for the Coronavirus Restrictions Grant (Closed). The money does not have to be paid back.

The final deadline for applications is now just days away – midnight on Monday, February 15 – with businesses across the borough urged to check the eligibility criteria before submitting the information required.

Councillor Ann Thomson, the leader of Barrow Borough Council, said: “The Additional Restrictions Grant scheme is there for businesses that didn’t meet the criteria for the other grants available.

“You might be a painter and decorator, a taxi driver, someone linked to the hospitality and leisure sector who operates without their own premises, or you may operate in a different field entirely.

“Please check the criteria and apply. We want to make sure anyone eligible gets the financial help they are entitled to before the deadline.”

The Government launched a series of financial support schemes to help businesses cope with restrictions imposed throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, which began a year ago.

Barrow Borough Council distributes these grants according to criteria set by the government.

Those eligible for the Additional Restrictions Grant include but are not limited to:

– Businesses that are not mandated to close during lockdown and are struggling due to the restrictions

– Sole traders and businesses operated by a sole person

– Businesses that are outside of the business rates system

– Bed and breakfast businesses that are within the council tax system, but registered as a food business with the council

– Licenced taxi drivers

Applicants must have been trading on the first full day of the national or local Covid Alert level 3 restrictions.

Those businesses that have already received an ARG grant payment will be contacted with an automated top up payment to cover the most recent national lockdown period.

Councillor Thomson added: “We want to make sure every penny of this money is used to help businesses hit by the coronavirus restrictions who don’t meet the criteria for the other Government grants.

“The main message here is that you must apply for this grant if you’ve not applied and received it before. Unless you apply, we can’t assess your application and transfer the money to you.”