Harlow’s hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses affected by recent rising cases of Omicron can now apply for financial support from Harlow Council.
The council has received over £516,000 in government funding to pay one-off grants of up to £6,000 to hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses. This cash support is to recognise the impact of rising cases of the Omicron variant, which has recently affected some businesses.
The council has identified businesses that pay business rates that are likely to be eligible under the scheme resulting in emails or letters being sent directly to 137 local businesses to help them apply for the funding.
Councillor James Leppard, Harlow Council’s Cabinet member for Finance, said:
“I fully recognise the challenges that local businesses are facing and have faced with the uncertainty due to the recent rise in Omicron cases. Therefore I strongly welcome this funding support from the Government.
“Our staff have moved really quickly to get the process in place for businesses to apply, including identifying and directly contacting those businesses which are likely to be eligible under our scheme. It is important we move quickly so those businesses most in need get the support they need. This could not have come at a better time for local businesses which have been through a difficult Christmas and New Year period.
“We will also be launching a further discretionary grant scheme shortly, which will support other businesses not eligible under this scheme, but impacted by Omicron.”
Full details of the eligibility criteria for the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure grants (OHLG) and grant levels can be read on our coronavirus business page.
Businesses that believe they could be eligible for support, but do not receive direct communication from the council can email business.rates@harlow.gov.uk. They should quote “OHLG” and their business rates account reference in the subject line, and provide details of why they believe their business may be eligible.
The application window for the OHLG scheme will close at 1pm on Monday 21 February 2022.