Applications now open for Restart Grant Plus
Like the Restart Grant Scheme, which closed for applications on July 22, the Restart Grant Plus will assist businesses in covering the costs associated with reopening following the Covid-19 lockdown. It is part of the Government’s July Stimulus package and will be available for businesses with up to 250 employees as well as charity shops, rateable B&Bs and sports clubs.
Top-ups available for Restart Grant recipients
Fingal County Council is now accepting applications for the Restart Grant Plus which was launched today by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, TD.
Like the Restart Grant Scheme, which closed for applications on July 22, the Restart Grant Plus will assist businesses in covering the costs associated with reopening following the Covid-19 lockdown. It is part of the Government’s July Stimulus package and will be available for businesses with up to 250 employees as well as charity shops, rateable B&Bs and sports clubs.
The maximum grant under Restart Grant Plus has increased, compared to the original Restart Grant, from €10,000 to €25,000 while the minimum grant has gone from €2,000 to €4,000.
Businesses that have already received funding under the Restart Grant do not need to re-apply under the Restart Grant Plus Scheme. Businesses who have already applied for and/or received payment under the initial Restart Grant Scheme will be contacted by email in the coming weeks by Fingal County Council and asked to complete a declaration form. Once the declaration form is returned, the additional payment will be processed.
Eligible businesses can make an application for the Restart Grant Plus via the online portal at https://fingalrestart.submit.com/show/107 and details of the scheme are also available on the Fingal County Council website. The closing date for applications is October 31, 2020.
An important point to note is the Restart Plus Grant is available to businesses with a turnover of up to €25m and employing 250 people or less, which were closed or impacted by at least a 25% loss in revenue from April 1, 2020 to June 30, 2020. The grant is a contribution towards the cost of re-opening or keeping a business operational and re-connecting with employees and customers. The turnover allowed has risen from €5m to €25m but there is a cap of €100,000 turnover per employee.
Under the initial Scheme, more than €6.7m was paid out since May by Fingal County Council to more than 1,300 businesses across Fingal.
Mayor of Fingal Cllr David Healy said: "I am delighted that the Restart Grant Plus Scheme has been introduced as the grants available will play a key role in helping businesses resume trading during this difficult economic period. I would encourage all eligible business to make their applications and avail of this important grant assistance scheme.”
Fingal County Council Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly said: “Fingal County Council has been to the forefront of supporting local businesses and the economy and the Restart Grant Scheme is one important element of that work. The expanded Restart Grant Plus Scheme, along with other measures announced in the July Stimulus Scheme, such as the €600m Rates Waiver Scheme, will help our businesses recover and our team will work hard to get the grants paid as soon as possible.”
A full list of updated FAQs is available at here
