While lockdown may be over, Congleton businesses big or small can apply for another round of grants.

Cheshire East Council is inviting applications for a new round of business support grants.

The borough council - which includes covering Congleton - has been awarded a further allocation of Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) by central government.

This will help Congleton businesses to recover from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and to help rebuild the local economy.

As part of this, applications are now open for businesses to apply for an Extended Restrictions Grant.

This is to support those that remained closed or were severely impacted by the government's decision to delay stage 4 of its roadmap out of lockdown and extend restrictions for a further four weeks, from 21 June until 18 July 2021.

Eligible businesses in Congleton – which include travel agents, pet boarding businesses, nightclubs, theatres, wedding and event venues – can apply for a one-off grant of between £2,000 and £4,500.

Theatres and cinemas like Congleton's Daneside Theatre can also apply for grants, a type of company that has particularly been hampered during the pandemic.

Congleton entrepreneurs which directly supply wedding and event venues can also claim, such as florists, caterers, DJs and wedding photographers.

Wedding musicians, marquee hiring companies and party planners can also apply for the grant aiming to cover a loss of revenue caused by delaying of the government's roadmap to ease lockdown restrictions.

The scheme is open to both businesses that operate from business rated premises and those that do not - so most businesses in Congleton should be eligible to apply.

Applications can be started here, which also details the full eligibility criteria.

The deadline for applying is midnight on October 12 2021.

The council is expecting to be able to make payment to successful Congleton businesses within three weeks of receiving their application.

Councillor Nick Mannion, chair of Cheshire East Council's economy and growth committee, said: "Cheshire East businesses have been extremely resilient throughout the pandemic and thankfully, with the lifting of lockdown restrictions, many are beginning to recover from the impacts.

"But the effects of the pandemic have been hugely challenging and support grants, such as the Extended Restrictions Grant, offer crucial financial support to many businesses.

"As with our previous grant schemes, I urge businesses to submit their application for a grant as soon as possible and access the support available to them."

The remainder of the council's ARG allocation will be used to provide a 'recovery and growth programme', which will include a package of direct business support, including business coaching.

It will also include a grant scheme to assist those looking to invest in their premises, facilities, or equipment to enable them to re-open quickly, bring staff and customers safely back to work or to capitalise on new opportunities.

More details of this programme will be announced over the coming weeks, for which Congleton Nub News will report on.

Are you a business that has taken advantage of these schemes? Has it saved your business? Get in touch - we love a small business success story.

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