By Aine McGlinchey
Local retail, hospitality and cultural businesses who haven’t yet availed of Business Recovery and Revitalisation grants are being urged to applynow before the January 22 deadline.
Grants between £500 and £3000 have been made available from the Department of Communications. The funding is to help businesses meet the public health advice to reduce the spread of Covid-19.
The funding can be spent on enhancements to assist with social distancing, installing digitisation systems, shop frontage changes, outdoor furniture and heaters and hand sanitising stations. The aim is also to encourage customers to return as restrictions will ease in the coming months.
Derry City and Strabane District Council have been issued £155,000 from the Department of Communications for grants. They can be applied for through the Council’s website.
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Brian Tierney, has encouraged people to apply now.
“Local businesses have had to adapt to unprecedented challenges to create a safe environment for both customers and employees,” he said.
“While the latest lockdown restrictions have forced manylocal businesses to close their doors again the start of the roll out of the vaccine means many can look forward to later in the year and beyond with more confidence.
“This funding can play a key role in stimulating recovery and reinvigorating the local economy by taking the financial pressure off local businesses when tailoring their servicesto create an environment where customers can return with confidence.
“Council’s Business Support team would appreciate it if applications can be submitted before the deadline to enable them to process them more efficiently and let businesses begin the process of adapting their service more quickly.”
The deadline for applications is 12pm on January 22 2021.
