Stroud District Council is urging businesses to check whether they are eligible for help from a special coronavirus grant.

Since the start of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Council has distributed more than £44million in grants to local businesses.

The Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) is a one-off discretionary payment to businesses that are not covered by other grant schemes, or where additional funding is needed that met the eligibility criteria between 16th February and 21st March 2021. The deadline for applying is 20th June.

Businesses that have previously made an application or received a payment under this scheme should not apply again but wait for the details of further schemes to be released.

The grant is available to: Businesses occupying properties with a rateable value of exactly £15,000 or less, or with fixed annual ongoing business related costs of exactly £15,000 or less.

They will receive a payment of £2,001 plus a one off top up award of £2,001.

Businesses occupying properties with a rateable value of over £15,000 and less than £51,000 or with fixed annual on-going business related costs of more than £15,000 and less than £51,000 will receive a payment of £3,000 plus a one off top up award of £3,000.

Businesses occupying properties with a rateable value of exactly £51,000 or more, or with fixed annual ongoing business related costs of £51,000 or more will receive a payment of £4,500 plus a one off top up award of £4,500.

Cllr Doina Cornell, Leader of Stroud District Council said: "Our Revenues & Benefits team is working hard to ensure all those businesses that are eligible to apply are supported by the appropriate grant.

"I strongly urge all businesses which have been affected by the Coronavirus pandemic to double check whether they can apply for an Additional Restrictions Grant before the deadline."

Further funding from the Government is expected soon, which will be made available to businesses from July. Updates will be posted on the Council's website.

The full policy and application form can be found at https://www.stroud.gov.uk/business/business-rates