Winter support package now available for Northumberland businesses forced into lockdown closure

Eligible businesses will be contacted by email, and once they have confirmed some brief details, payments covering a six-week period will be made.

The business support package for the lockdown from January 5 onwards includes two elements:

Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum: January 5 – February 15; and a one-off Closed Business Lockdown Payment.

If applicable, payment for the five days from December 31 to January 4, to cover Tier 4 restrictions, will also be included.

The amounts payable will be dependent on the rateable value of the business.

Eligible businesses are those which have been mandated by Government to close and include non-essential retail, leisure, personal care, sports facilities and hospitality businesses.

They will be businesses which have submitted a successful application for the original Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum.

Businesses mandated to close between November 5 and December 2, which have not yet applied for the Closed Addendum grant, should do so as soon as possible. In line with the Government’s national deadline, applications will close on Sunday, January 31.

Cllr Nick Oliver, cabinet member for corporate resources at Northumberland County Council said: “We are extremely pleased to get this payment process underway, so that we can support businesses during the current lockdown.

“We know that the number and type of grants can be confusing, and to make it easier, we will be emailing all of the businesses which we know will be eligible.

“It is very important that any business which has been legally required to close, and which has not made an initial application for a Local Restrictions Support Grant (Closed) Addendum yet, does so before January 31.

“We are using the details provided for initial applications to process payments for future time periods, so these initial applications are very important.”

You can read a full list of those businesses which will be eligible at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-lockdown-stay-at-home#businesses-and-venues

You can find full details of all of the Covid-19 business support grants available at www.northumberland.gov.uk/businesshub

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