AROUND 80 per cent of businesses in Limerick who are eligible for the Business Grant Plus scheme have applied for funding from Limerick City and County Council.
To date Limerick City and County Council has received 4,211 applications with a value of €19.5 million, while 3,856 applications have been processed with €17.8 million having been paid to businesses in Limerick.
However, that still leaves around 20 per cent of eligible businesses who have yet to apply for the scheme.
Closing date for applications is 31 October 2020.
The Business Restart Grant Plus scheme amounts to direct grant aid of between a minimum of €4,000 to €25,000, based on commercial rates bill from 2019.
It is open to businesses that have a turnover of less than €100,000 per employee up to a maximum of €25million.
The grant, administered by Limerick City and County Council is to help businesses with the costs associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.
Other qualifying criteria include:
· Be a commercial, trading, entity
· Operate from a premises that is commercially rateable by a local authority
· Have 0 – 250 employees
· Have suffered a 25%+ loss in turnover between 1 April and 30 June 2020.
· Commit to remain open or to reopen if closed
· Intend to retain employees that are on The Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS)
If a business has already been paid a grant under the initial Restart Grant Scheme, they do not need to complete a new application for the Restart Plus. The Council will contact you to confirm if you wish to opt-in to the Restart Grant Plus scheme.
The Council will liaise with businesses directly, in the event that any additional information is required to complete your application under the Restart Grant Plus scheme.
A further 30% top up is available for businesses as part of the introduction of Covid Level 3 restrictions. The Council will again contact businesses to confirm if they are eligible/ wish to opt-in to the Restart Grant Plus 30% scheme.
Mayor of the City and County of Limerick Cllr Michael Collins said: “As a small business owner I understand the worry and confusion brought about by Covid-19. Some futures are uncertain and it is difficult to live with the ‘not knowing’.”
“The Business ReStart Grant Plus will, in some way, help allay some of the costs associated and incurred when re-opening or keeping a business operational as well as re-connecting with employees and customers.”
Sean Coughlan, Deputy Chief Executive and Head of Finance with Limerick City and County Council said: “Business Restart Grant Plus is one of a suite of measures being offered by Limerick City and County Council and Local Enterprise Office Limerick. I would encourage all businesses eligible to apply.”
“Our records suggest there is still around 20 per cent of eligible businesses that have yet to apply for the grant.
Log on to limerick.ie/business and fill out the application form. The form is not complicated and only takes a few minutes.”
For more information on the Restart Grant Plus click here.
To apply for the ReStart Grant Plus Scheme, click here.
For information about other schemes to support businesses, check out limerick.ie/business.
