Harlow Council has taken swift action to support local businesses, paying out £161,341 in grants to local hospitality, leisure and accommodation businesses impacted by the Omicron situation in less than a week.
The council has written to 137 business which may be eligible for support under the Government’s Omicron Hospitality and Leisure grants (OHLG) scheme. To date, 43 businesses have received their grants after completing the application and submitting supporting evidence.
The council continues to make follow up contact with those business who may be eligible and have yet to apply for help. A small number of businesses who may also be eligible have also been identified and the council will be making contact with them shortly.
In a further boost for business in the hospitality and leisure sector, the council is also set to launch a further discretionary grant scheme later this week.
This aims to support other businesses not eligible under the OHLG scheme, but impacted by Omicron. Full details of this scheme will be available at www.harlow.gov.uk/coronavirus/businesses
Councillor James Leppard, Harlow Council’s Cabinet member for Finance, said: “I am delighted that we have moved quickly to identify and contact businesses who may be eligible for support and that we are equally moving as quickly to get this money out the door to businesses. This money, at this time, is going to be real lifeline to those businesses impacted by Omircron. If you run a hospitality, leisure or accommodation business and have received communication from the council please complete your application as soon as possible so we can get your grant processed.”
Full details of the eligibility criteria for OHLG and grant levels can be read www.harlow.gov.uk/coronavirus/businesses The application window for the OHLG scheme will close at 1pm on Monday 21 February 2022.
