Independent Cllr Kieran McCarthy wishes to remind business owners to apply for the Government Restart Fund Grant, which has been created nationally by the Minister for Business, Enterprise, and Innovation to help micro and small enterprises with the costs of reopening during Covid-19. Cllr McCarthy noted: “Companies can apply to their local authority for a grant of an amount equivalent to no more than their 2019 rates bill. There will be a cap of €10,000. The grant can be used to pay ongoing fixed costs, for replenishing stock and for measures needed to ensure employee and customer safety”.

To receive the grant from Cork City Council a business must have an existing rate account with the Cork City Council, have an annual turnover of less than €5 million and employ between 1 to 50 people, have closed or suffered a projected 25% or more loss in turnover to the end June 2020, commit to remain open or to reopen if it was closed, declare the intention to retaining employees that are on the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and to reemploy staff on the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment where applicable.

            Cllr McCarthy continued: “businesses can make an online application for the Cork city grant.  There is also a great Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the grant scheme, which is available on the front page of the www.corkcity.ie website. The Closing date for receipt of applications is 31 August 2020. For any other queries, please contact Cork City Council’s Customer Services Unit at 353 21 4924000”.