Businesses in Hadleigh and the surrounding villages are being encouraged to apply for a major new grant which has been launched to support recovery in the district.

A significant new grant fund, launched by Babergh is set to support the recovery of local businesses reopening after lockdown but unable to access the Government's Restart Grant scheme.

The councils' Discretionary Restart Grant is designed to help with costs associated with reopening following the lifting of lockdown restrictions, to help businesses resume trading at pre-covid levels.

The grant will be a one-off payment of up to £18,000 for eligible businesses. Eligibility and payments will consider the scale and size of business, impact of Covid, permitted opening dates and anticipated reopening costs. It cannot be used to cover salaries, fixed costs such as utilities, or be accessed by businesses outside the districts.

Business owners must submit a new application for the Discretionary Restart Grant regardless of whether they have received a previous Covid business support grant. There are no automatic payments for either the Discretionary Restart Grant or Government Restart Grant.

When applying, businesses must provide:

• details about their business, including evidence that the business is located in Babergh or Mid Suffolk
• business insurance
• an overview of the impact of the covid lockdowns
• evidence of how the grant will be used

Applications for the Discretionary Restart Grant must be submitted by Sunday 13 June 2021.

Fiona Duhamel, assistant director for economic development and regeneration at Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils, said: "After a year of unprecedented challenges for businesses across the country, the Discretionary Restart Grant can provide business owners with much needed financial support to get them back on their feet and trading as they were before the introduction of lockdown restrictions.

"We are urging businesses in Babergh and Mid Suffolk who have not been able to access the Government's Restart Grant to find out whether they are eligible and to apply as soon as possible."

Samantha Vinyard-Jones, Growth Hub Manager at the New Anglia Growth Hub, said: "With the easing of lockdown restrictions, businesses across Suffolk are starting to look forward and explore ways to access support to help them thrive.

"Whether it is applying for financial grants or accessing business advice and guidance, we are working with businesses large and small to help them understand and access all the support that is available to them."

Further guidance and application forms can be found by visiting www.babergh.gov.uk.

The Government's Restart Grant scheme is open to businesses that are registered for business rates, and that offer in-person services at a fixed rate-paying premises.

This includes non-essential retail, hospitality, accommodation, leisure, personal care, and gym & sport providers.

Business owners unsure of which grant they may be eligible for, can contact the councils' economic development team for further advice by emailing [email protected] or calling 01473 296444.