Applications open for Additional restrictions grants (ARG) Omicron fund

On 21 December 2021, the Government announced that a further £102 million would be made available for Local Authorities, through a top-up to the Additional Restrictions Grant.

Birmingham City Council has been allocated £1,565,402. The ARG funding will provide a one off grant to businesses, which have been severely impacted by coronavirus restrictions and the rise of the Omicron variant.

The grant is only for those businesses not supported under the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG).

Previous ARG beneficiaries will be eligible for consideration under this new scheme, providing they meet all the eligibility criteria listed here.

The one off grant payment will reflect the bands applied in the relevant Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant.

This would be calculated by using the equivalent Rateable Value (RV) or RV if the business is a ratepayer. If the business is not based in commercial premises or not on the Rates system in these cases the business will be paid the lowest band:

• £2,667 for businesses with a rateable value of £15,000 or under
• £4,000 for businesses with a rateable value between £15,000 and £51,000
• £6,000 for businesses with a rateable value of over £51,000

If the business is not based at a commercial premise or not on the Rates system and equivalent RV cannot be calculated, the grant payment will be £2,667. ARG will only be available for those businesses, which cannot be supported under the Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant and meet all the eligibility criteria.

­All grants are subject to applicants meeting the eligibility criteria and applications will be assessed on a first come first served basis and subject to availability of funds.

For more information and to apply for this round of grants, click here.