Ely businesses who have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic will now be able to access a fourth round of funding.

The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) is a discretionary funding scheme managed by the East Cambridgeshire District Council to support businesses that were financially impacted by the most recent lockdown measures.

This new funding is specifically targeted at companies who were ineligible for other grant schemes, such as the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) or Restart Grants.

This scheme encompasses businesses in the Ely area in the hope that it will not only help the local economy and high street shops, but also keep the community spirit thriving.

Businesses that can apply include customer-facing services and shops, businesses operating from a domestic or commercial property and community facilities such as a village hall.

Even if you were able to keep your business open during the lockdown period, if you can prove that your income was negatively affected by the restrictions, due to a reduction in footfall for instance, you could still be entitled to a pay-out.

The grants will be a one-off payment and are available for businesses who experienced a loss of income of over 30 per cent that was directly related to national restrictions. This particular funding applies to businesses who were affected between February 16 – April 12.

How do I apply for an ARG grant?

To apply for the ARG grant or find out more, simply visit the East Cambridgeshire District Council website. Alternatively, you can email covid19businessgrants@eastcambs.gov.uk, or call 01353 665555.

Make sure to check your eligibility before you apply.

The closing date for grant applications is 5pm on Sunday, June 6, 2021. With this date just around the corner, the council is encouraging Ely businesses to apply sooner rather than later.

How much am I entitled to?

If your business is operating from a commercial property but has no business rates account, you may be entitled to £4,500.

If you run a business from a domestic property or manage a community facility, you may be eligible for £3,000.

Businesses that remained open but still faced a reduction in revenue as a direct result of lockdown restrictions may be eligible to receive a one-off payment of £2,500.

There’s no doubt that the past 12 months have been one of the most challenging times many businesses have faced, but schemes such as the ARG are there to ease some of the financial loss from the pandemic and help businesses in Ely get back on their feet.