Grant help for Cheltenham businesses is extended – but the clock is ticking

Good news for businesses in Cheltenham as the borough council announces more grant money to help them through the pandemic, but the deadline to apply by is fast-approaching.

By Andrew Merrell | Published Monday 1 March 2021

Businesses on Cheltenham's High Street could be among those to benefit from grant money still available through the town's borough council.

Cheltenham Borough Council still has grant money available to help businesses through the pandemic.

To date, Cheltenham Borough Council has paid more than 6,500 grants, worth 32m to businesses, to help them through the pandemic. — To date, Cheltenham Borough Council has paid more than 6,500 grants, worth £32m to businesses, to help them through the pandemic.

Cheltenham Borough Council has launched a new grant scheme to support businesses – and applications can be made until Wednesday 10 March 2021.

This Additional Restrictions Discretionary Grant is the second round of ARG support and includes businesses not eligible for the national schemes.

The categories of local business which can apply has been expanded – and in more good news, the government has also confirmed the LRSG (Local Restrictions Support Grant) scheme will be extended to Wednesday 31 March 2021 too.

Cllr Steve Jordan, cabinet member finance and assets for the borough council, said: ‘To date, we have paid over 6,500 grants, worth £32m to businesses.

‘We hope that even more businesses can now benefit from this local discretionary scheme, which provides some financial relief during a time of great uncertainty.

‘I would also urge the government to expand income support to groups who have so far received none.’

Businesses now eligible for the ARG support include:

• Bed and Breakfast premises which pay council tax instead of business rates

• Regular market/street traders who do not have their own business rates assessment (license from Cheltenham Borough Council)

• Hairdressers/beauticians/businesses providing personal care/wellbeing/in person training services that do not have their own business rates assessment

• Businesses in or supplying the retail, hospitality, leisure/tourism and events sector that do not have their own business rates assessment

• Certain food and beverage outlets

• Taxi drivers (licensed by and living in Cheltenham borough)

Businesses must either have premises or other unavoidable fixed on-going business costs and have been severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions.

Full eligibility criteria is listed on the council’s business grants pages.

By Andrew Merrell

Follow SoGlos on LinkedIn and sign-up to the weekly SoGlos business newsletter for the very latest Gloucestershire business news stories.