Bolton businesses now eligible for lockdown grants
02 October 2020
In September, the government announced further funding for local authorities to assist businesses who were required to close as part of the localised lockdowns which were imposed to attempt to control the spread of COVID-19.
Some businesses in Bolton have now been closed for three weeks, which will now make them eligible for this support. Those that are eligible will have a period of several weeks in which they can claim the money that they are entitled to for the three weeks they were in lockdown.
This funding will allow Bolton Council to dispense grants to businesses that fit the following criteria:
- Eligible business properties with rateable values of less than £51,000 will receive a grant of £1,000
- Eligible business properties with rateable values of £51,000 and over will receive a grant of £1,500
- Eligible businesses with more than one affected property will receive a grant in respect of each property
Business Minister Paul Scully said:
“We understand how difficult it is for businesses required to close as part of localised lockdowns, but we must take action to reduce the spread of COVID-19 while minimising damage to lives and livelihoods.
We have put in place a wide-ranging package of support to help struggling businesses and today’s announcement means Bolton Council can start distributing cash grants to those who need it, helping them through this challenging time.”
In addition to this fund, Bolton Council will receive an additional 5% of funding to run a local discretionary grant fund which could be used to support businesses that do not pay business rates and other severely impacted businesses that are prioritised locally.
As with the grants to business-rate paying businesses, this additional top-up grant will be paid every three weeks to businesses where closures persist.
From Saturday 3 October, Bolton will be brought in line with measures in place throughout the rest of Greater Manchester as case rates have fallen.
This will mean that hospitality businesses including bars, pubs, cafes, restaurants can resume table service subject to early 10pm closure and the rule of six restrictions, and other businesses such as bowling alleys, indoor skating rinks, casinos, soft play and conference centres and exhibit halls will also be able to reopen.
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