Up to £10,000 is available for eligible businesses who need support recovering from the ongoing effects of the covid-19 pandemic.
Trafford has expanded its Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) scheme and business owners, including self-employed people, are being encouraged to make applications as soon as possible.
Coun Tom Ross, Trafford council’s executive member for finance and governance, said: “The omicron variant has made it a tough winter so far for many businesses, particularly those in the leisure and hospitality industry.
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“If you are an SME business or are self-employed and have lost out because of covid, we want to hear from you.
“These smaller businesses are often at the heart of our communities or provide essential services so we want to do all we can to support them.”
Four new rounds within the scheme have been added to include:
- Round 6: Community interest companies
- Round 7: Supply chain to the leisure and hospitality sector support scheme
- Round 8: Omicron tourism, leisure, hospitality and personal care support scheme
- Round 9: Omicron tourism, leisure, hospitality and childcare self-employed support scheme
Currently, the existing key sectors funding round has been amended to allow previous applicants to apply for a second round of cash.
The previous applicants will need to complete a new form and provide updated evidence.
Childcare companies with fixed property costs for premises in Trafford, and which pay business rates, can also apply to this key sectors round.
Community interest companies which have not previously received funding through the ARG scheme can now apply for up to £10,000 of support.
This extra round has been added ‘in recognition of the vital services that they provide to Trafford residents’, the council said.
There is also a round for companies in the tourism, leisure, hospitality and personal care sector and which have not been able to get funding from the omicron hospitality and leisure grant scheme.
For the personal care sector, such as hair salons, applications can only be accepted from companies which have business rates liability. Successful applicants will receive a one-off payment of £6,000.
Finally, there is a new round for self-employed Trafford residents operating a business in the tourism, leisure, hospitality and childcare sectors. If they have been impacted by omicron, they can qualify for a one-off payment of £3,000.
The closing date for applications is midnight on Friday February 25, but the scheme may close prior to this date if all funds have been allocated.
Applicants have been asked to provide all supporting evidence at the moment of application.
If all the supporting evidence is not provided, they have five working days within being contacted to supply the relevant evidence or the application will be closed.
For more details about the scheme and how to apply, you can click here.
