It is now just over a week since the launch of the Government’s new Restart Grant Scheme and already Wexford County Council has received over 700 applications from businesses throughout County Wexford, with an average grant application value of approximately €4000.

The Scheme, which is operated by each local authority, offers grant aid to small businesses to help them with the costs associated with reopening and re-employing workers following COVID-19 closures. It is available to businesses with a turnover of less than €5m and employing 50 people or less, which were closed or impacted by at least a 25% reduction in turnover out to 30th June 2020.

Any business that has commercially rateable premises can apply and the grant payable is equivalent to the rates bill of the business in 2019, with a minimum payment of €2,000 and a maximum payment of €10,000. The grant is a contribution towards the cost of re-opening or keeping a business operational and re-connecting with employees and customers. It can be used to defray ongoing fixed costs, e.g. utilities, insurance, refurbishment or for measures to ensure employee and customer safety.

The business must commit to remain open – or to reopen if it was closed – and must also declare the intention to retain employees that are benefitting from the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS).

Applications can be made on-line at www.wexfordcoco.ie and closing date for receipt of applications is 31 August 2020. Further information can be obtained from the Council’s Economic Development Business Support Unit by emailing restartgrant@wexfordcoco.ie.

Wexford County Council says it expects to issue payment to applicants within the next few weeks, with funding being provided to the Council by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.