Local Restrictions Support Grant (LSRG) and Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG)

I want to update you on the new arrangements for the COVID business grants that Folkestone & Hythe District Council has been tasked to administrate by the Government, as national lockdown ends and our district faces Tier 3 restrictions.

There will continue to be a Local Restrictions Support Grant (LSRG) scheme for businesses that ARE legally required to close under the Tier 3 restrictions. All businesses that are eligible for a grant through this scheme will be directly contacted and informed about the process by our Business Rates team.

In addition, there will continue to be an Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) scheme for businesses that have been impacted by the Tier 3 restrictions, but are NOT required to legally close. To be eligible for this grant, businesses need to have been impacted by at least 25% and have fixed costs which are at least 30% of the grant award.

Where a business has already applied for an ARG for the national lockdown period and a grant has been approved, additional awards will be automatically made for every 14 day period of Tier 3 restrictions. This automatic award will be 50% of the original ARG grant awarded and payments will be repeated for every subsequent 14 day period of Tier 3 restrictions.

For businesses that were eligible for a LSRG (because they were legally required to close) during the national lock down period, but are NOT eligible for an LSRG under Tier 3 restrictions, applications to the ARG scheme can be made for the Tier 3 period. Please see the following link to the ARG webpage which has further information about the scheme and the electronic application form. Please note that supporting evidence is required to support an application and this should be emailed separately to economy@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk. Details of the supporting evidence required is indicated on the webpage that can be accessed below

https://www.folkestone-hythe.gov.uk/additional-restrictions-grant

PLEASE NOTE: If you have already applied for an ARG for the national lockdown period, your applications are being assessed as quickly as possible and we hope to let you know the outcome by the end of next week. You do not need to do anything more at this stage.

If you have any further queries about either of these schemes please email economy@folkestone-hythe.gov.uk