‘Re-start’grant schemetohelp reopendoors
APPLICATIONS have opened for a new €250 million Government scheme that will provide direct grant aid to micro and small businesses to help them meet the costs associated with reopening and re-employing staff after COVID-19 closures.
The Restart Grant is available to businesses with a turnover of less than €5million and employing 50 people or less, which were closed or impacted by at least a 25-per-cent reduction in turnover. It is a contribution towards the cost of re-opening or keeping a business operational and re-connecting with employees and customers.
The grants will be equivalent to the rates bill of the business in 2019, with a minimum payment of €2,000 and a maximum payment of €10,000.
Applications can be made online now through Kerry County Council, which is administering the scheme in Kerry. A link can be found on the council website at www.kerrycoco.ie.
The Department of Business Enterprise and Innovation said the processing of applications and payment of the Restart Grant will depend on the initial surge of applications but, as far as is feasible, it will be prioritised according to scheduled re-opening dates in the national Roadmap.
“I am acutely aware of the difficulties facing small businesses during these challenging times,” said the Business Minister Heather Humphreys.
“The Grant is designed to help small businesses get back on their feet. It can be used to defray ongoing fixed costs, for replenishing stock and for measures needed to ensure employee and customer safety,” said the minister.
“Small businesses, whether it [be] the local hairdresser, café or clothes shop, are absolutely vital to the social fabric of our towns and villages throughout the country. These businesses have made huge sacrifices to protect their employees and customers during COVID-19 and we want to help them get back up and running so that they can return to viability and contribute to the national economic recovery.
“These are small grants but they can make a big difference in terms of giving businesses an extra helping hand to open their doors again,” she added.