Mendip's grant scheme providing extra support for businesses affected by the current national lockdown opens today (Monday ) for two weeks.

The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) is part of a package of measures announced by the government to assist businesses severely impacted by restrictions put in place to control the spread of COVID-19. It opens on Monday 30th November until Monday 14th December.

Mendip's Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) will provide assistance to those that were not eligible for the Local Restrictions Support Grant (LRSG) for businesses that were required by law to close for 28 days during the national lockdown from 5th November to 2nd December 2020.

Any business owner or sole trader whose business has been severely impacted by COVID-19 restrictions can apply for the ARG including those homeworkers and mobile workers with fixed monthly costs.

These could be:

- Businesses within the business rates system which may not legally be forced to close, but are nonetheless impacted.

- Businesses outside the business rates system which have been effectively forced to close, or have been impacted.

Mendip traders will need documents to hand before completing the forms.

Cllr Barry O'Leary, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Enterprise and Finance, praised businesses in Mendip for enduring two national lockdown periods. He said: "Those national actions were necessary at the time. The moves by central government helped turn the tide against the spread of the virus, but locally I know they also came with an economic impact and that businesses, especially small businesses, have been under severe pressure over the past few weeks."

"The ARG fund will be open to businesses who were ineligible for existing grants to help them manage the restrictions. We know the grants will just be a part of this process and a helping hand, but we are committed to getting this help at pace, to strengthen and return our local economy to being vibrant and grow back fairer."

Cllr O'Leary added: "Local businesses are at the heart of this Council's plan for a fairer and better district, that ensure opportunity for all."

Online applications are no open click HERE : the Mendip site

Be ready with all relevant supporting information – check out the website this weekend for instructions prior to launch date

Submit applications before the closing date at 9am on Monday 14th December.

All applications received during the application window will be assessed in line with our policy.

The scheme is not open to those that have - or are expected to receive - an LRSG. If you pay business rates and were ordered to close for this period you can still apply for the LRSG here: the business grants site

If you are unable to complete an online form or have any queries about the scheme please email [email protected]. But do remember, this email is for queries only.