Over 1,000 Sefton businesses given £7.8m in Government grants during Covid pandemic

Sefton Council has issued £7.8million in Government grants to 1,160 businesses across Sefton to help them survive during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

A council spokesperson said: “For Sefton businesses forced to close due to national and local restrictions, we have issued £7.8million in Government grants to 1,160 businesses to date.

“The latest round of lockdown grants should be in bank accounts in the coming days and weeks as follows:

“Businesses not needing to apply again for the grant will receive their payment by 3 February.

“Three hundred and thirty more businesses have been identified for the support, without needing to apply, and should receive their grant payment by 5 February. 

“Five hundred new applications are currently being reviewed, with payments likely to get to you by 12 February.

“For more detail on the other grants and support available to your business, visit our website https://www.sefton.gov.uk/…/covid-19-business-support…/”

Funding applications worth £9,000 opened on 21 January for businesses in Southport and across Sefton which were forced to close due to the current Covid-19 lockdown.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak revealed the funding for the Lockdown Grants earlier this year as part of a £4.6billon programme to support firms.

Sefton Council is administering payments.

Sefton businesses that have been ordered to close during the current COVID-19 national lockdown can now apply for new Lockdown Grants.

Firms which are liable for business rates may be eligible for a further support payment, with applications in Sefton opening on 21 January 2021.

The Chancellor announced one-off top up grants for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses worth up to £9,000 per property to help businesses through to the Spring.

A £594 million discretionary fund was also made available to support other impacted businesses.

This comes in addition to £1.1 billion further discretionary grant funding for Local Authorities, Local Restriction Support Grants worth up to £3,000 a month and extension of furlough scheme.

Am I eligible?

The full eligibility criteria can be found on the business section of the Council’s website along with detailed guidance of how to apply and the amount that a business might receive. The window for new applications is expected to open this Thursday, 21 January.

Do I need to apply again?

Businesses that have previously applied for, and received, a Local Restrictions Support Grant (for any period after 14 October 2020) will not need to submit a further application as an automatic payment will be issued.

When will my business receive a payment?

The Council’s business rates team will begin making payments from Friday 22 January and expect to have issued grants to all eligible businesses by Friday 29 January. Payments are expected to take 2-3 days from issue before appearing in nominated bank accounts.

What if a business hasn’t applied for any grants before?

Applications from businesses who have not previously received support will first need to be verified for eligibility, with payments expected to be issued by Wednesday 17 February.

How do I apply?

Applications must be made online and submitted no later than Wednesday 31 March 2021. Any applications submitted after that date will not be eligible to receive a grant.

The application form is expected to be available and live by Thursday 21 January.

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