Retail, hospitality and leisure sites across Warrington South will be able to claim a one-off grant of up to £9,000, the Government has announced today (05/01/21).
The payments will cost the Treasury £4.6 billion and are aimed to help support the high street as new lockdown measures announced on Monday take hold.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak also announced a further £594 million for local authorities and devolved administrations to support businesses not eligible for the grants.
Payments will be based on the size of each store, pub, cafe or hotel tied into the business rates typically paid by each business. The smallest sites will be able to claim up to £4,000 and medium-sized ones £6,000.
The new one-off grants come in addition to grants worth up to £3,000 for closed businesses, and up to £2,100 per month for impacted businesses once they reopen.
Commenting on the scheme, MP for Warrington South Andy Carter said:
Having spoken to Treasury Ministers on behalf of businesses across Warrington South, this announcement will go some way to supporting many small businesses through this difficult period towards the Spring. Grants are available of up to £9,000, depending on your rateable value, and you can receive multiple grants, as they are eligible on a per premises basis.
Warrington Borough Council will be administrating the scheme and have also been given extra funding for a discretionary grant scheme to support other small businesses which are impacted closure. The criteria for applying will be released shortly, I’m pushing for this to be used to support home-based businesses and those in supply chains which are impacted by closures on the High Street.
The Government has already provided £1.1 billion of discretionary funding for local authorities, extended the furlough scheme until April and taxpayer-backed business loans until March.
Chancellor, Rishi Sunak said:
The new strain of the virus presents us all with a huge challenge - and whilst the vaccine is being rolled out, we have needed to tighten restrictions further.
Throughout the pandemic we've taken swift action to protect lives and livelihoods and today we're announcing a further cash injection to support businesses and jobs until the spring.
This will help businesses to get through the months ahead - and crucially it will help sustain jobs, so workers can be ready to return when they are able to reopen.
