Business Restart Grant Applications expire on the 31st August 2020
by Mark Ryan
 
 

Business Restart Grant Applications expire on the 31st August 2020

 

Please ensure you that have applied to your local authority for the Business Restart Grant as the final deadline for this grant application is the 31st August 2020.

The €250 million Restart Fund has been created nationally by the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation.  The purpose is to help micro and small enterprises with the costs of reopening during Covid-19.  Companies can apply for a grant to their Local Council for an amount equivalent to no more than their 2019 rates bill and there will be a cap of €10,000. The grant can be used to pay ongoing fixed costs, for replenishing stock and for measures needed to ensure employee and customer safety.

 

Subject to the qualifying criteria below, any business that has a commercially rateable premises, or where rates are paid on your behalf and attributable to the business premises you occupy, can apply.  

 

Multiple chain stores, i.e. a business that is a non-financially independent branch of a group of chain stores which is owned and managed by a single entity, are not eligible.  Non-commercial organisations such as community and sporting premises (including charity shops and community and sporting premises with a bar) are not eligible.  Businesses that do not operate from commercially rateable premises (tradesmen, service providers, etc) are not eligible.  Premises that were vacant prior to the Covid-19 emergency are not eligible for the grant

 

To receive the grant, a business must:

  • Have an existing rate account with the Local Council
  • Have an annual turnover of less than €5 million and employ between 1 to 50 people
  • Have closed, or incurred a projected 25% or more loss in turnover to the end of June 2020
  • Commit to remain open or to reopen if it was closed
  • Declare the intention to retaining employees that are on the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and to re-employ staff on the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment where applicable

Apply online for the Restart Grant for Cork based businesses by using the following links: 

 

Cork City Council - COVID 19 Business Restart Grant 

 

Cork County Council - COVID 19 Business Restart Grant 

 

Appeals relating to a decision to refuse an application need to be made in writing within 7 days of receipt of notification of the decision to the relevant local authority, whose decision on the appeal will be final. 

 

If we can be of assistance with this application or if you have any queries, please contact us.

 

Regards

 

Mark Ryan