Business support grants

Local Restrictions Support Grants (Closed) for all periods before 5 January 2021 now have a final application date of 31 March 2021; and a final payment date of 30 April 2021.

All Local Restrictions Support Grants (Open) and Local Restrictions Support Grants (Sector) now have a final application date of 31 March 2021; and a final payment date of 30 April 2021.

If you have made previous applications for the restriction grants available since November 2020, you do not need to do anything more to receive the additional grants.

Please do not make multiple applications. This creates extra work and slows down the process of awarding payments.

Please be assured we will continue to pay out grants for the Tier 2, 3 and 4 restriction periods that have been in place since 17 October 2020 to eligible businesses.

In response to the recent restrictions to suppress the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Government has announced a series of measures to support businesses.

These grants are funded by the Government which we administer to our local businesses.

If you have already made an application for a Local Restriction Support Grant (Open), or Local Restriction Support Grant (Closed), for the measures prior to 2 December there is no need to complete another form; your original application will be used for the grants covering the post 2 December Tier 2, Tier 3 and Tier 4 restrictions.

This does not include the Essex Business Adaption Fund (EBAF) – to apply for this you need to complete a separate form.

The exception to this is: if you received notification from the Council that you did not qualify for a grant during the first set of national restrictions (5 November to 2 December) – because, for instance, you were not trading on the day prior to the restrictions starting. In these circumstances, please can you make another application if you believe you now qualify. If you have become a liable ratepayer since the tier restriction system and subsequent national restrictions came into effect: that is after 2 December 2020. Again, you will need to make an application.

Local Restrictions Support Grant (for closed businesses)

This grant applies to businesses that are required to close under the national restrictions between 5 November and 2 December 2020; and to all subsequent tier and national restrictions where businesses were required to close by law.

Local Restrictions Support Grant (for open businesses)

This grant applies between 17 October and 4 November 2020, when Essex was subject to Tier 2 restrictions; and to all subsequent tier restriction periods (but not periods of national restrictions). It is intended to kickstart recovery for businesses that are not legally required to close but are severely impacted by the restrictions on socialising under the tier system.

Additional Restrictions Grant

The Government’s intention is to help those businesses which – while not legally forced to close – are, nonetheless, severely impacted by restrictions put in place to control the spread of COVID-19.

Closed Business Lockdown Payment

The Closed Businesses Lockdown Payment will be in addition to Local Restriction Support Grant (for closed businesses) Addendum: 5 January onwards scheme payments.

Essex Business Adaptation Fund (EBAF)

This is to assist them in adapting their premises and/or operations in order to continue to operate in a COVID-secure environment and generate income whilst legislation permits them to remain open and/or when restrictions are removed and they are able to reopen.

This is called the Essex Business Adaptation Fund (EBAF). Essex County Council has given Epping Forest District Council £242,000 from this fund to distribute to eligible businesses within its district.