Omicron-hit traders can apply for grants
Sunderland businesses hit hardest by the Omicron coronavirus variant can now apply for new government support grants.
Sunderland City Council is in charge of distributing oneoff grants of up to £6,000 to eligible hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses.
But the authority’s leader has hit out at the funding level allocated to the city to help businesses in other sectors.
Sunderland has been allocated £260,512 in Additional RestrictionsGrant(ARG)funding,whichisinplacetosupport other businesses impacted by Omicron – such as gyms and travel agents and firms in the hospitality and leisure sectors supply chain.
Businesses can apply for one-off grants from the ARG scheme of up to £2,667, which willbedistributedbythecouncil once all applications have been reviewed for eligibility. If demand is greater than the total funding available, grant levels will have to be reduced.
Council leader Coun Graeme Miller said: “This funding isvitalforlocalbusinesses,and although we are disappointed with the limited ARG allocation, we will work hard to ensure grants are distributed to eligibleSunderlandbusinesses as quickly as possible.
“Last year, our teams worked tirelessly to distribute just over £9million of ARG grant funding to provide a lifeline for businesses, and I hope this new allocation of funding will offer support to as many
of the businesses who need it most as possible, due to the uncertainty and challenges caused by Omicron.”
The grant funding is part of a £1billion package of financial support for businesses which continue to be affected by the pandemic.
Applications for the ARG Omicron funding will be open until midnight on February 13, while applications for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant will be open until midnight on March 18.
Details for the grant schemes and all Covid-19 guidance can be found by visiting: https://www.sunderland.gov. uk/covid-19business