Final Covid-19 Recovery Grant call

This funding call is open to eligible businesses from across the Mid and East Antrim Borough, in both town centre and rural locations.

The latest round of the Covid-19 Revitalisation Recovery Grant scheme opened on Monday, March 22, and will run until Monday, April 26 at 6pm, or earlier if all grant funding is allocated before that date.

The grant, funded by the Department for Communities (DfC) and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), has been designed to help deliver measures that provide a safer and more welcoming environment for visitors, shoppers and workers within town centres, villages and rural areas.

The following types of business are eligible to apply:

Independent retailers (engaged in the retail sale of goods)

Independent private coffee shops, cafes, bars and restaurants

Independent hair and beauty and health businesses

Independent service providers such as estate agents, financial advisors, mortgage and insurance

Funding can cover a wide variety of expenditure, including but not limited to: PPE equipment; internal social distancing measures; signage; contactless payment or app development for booking systems; upgrades to shop frontage; awnings/canopies; outdoor furniture; heaters; queueing systems; PA/tannoy systems; shop front lighting displays; merchandising stands and fixtures and digital screens.

A total of 209 local businesses have so far benefitted from combined funding provision of £320,638 across previous Covid-19 Revitalisation Recovery grant calls. Businesses that have already received funding through the scheme can apply for further grant assistance, however duplication of funding for particular items will not be permitted. Each application will be assessed on a case by case basis. Funding will be delivered on a first-come first-served basis, so eligible businesses are advised to submit an application as soon as the scheme has opened.

Mayor of Mid and East Antrim, Cllr Peter Johnston, encouraged local businesses to find out if they are eligible to apply for the final funding call.

“The last 12 months have been incredibly challenging for our local businesses but we are starting to see signs that better times are coming.

“The Covid Revitalisation Recovery Grant Scheme has already provided assistance to over 200 businesses in Mid and East Antrim, to help them make preparations and adaptations for when they are able to reopen. I would encourage anyone who would like to find out whether their business can avail of this support to get in touch with the council at [email protected] before the scheme closes on Monday, April 26.”