Small Business Assistance Scheme for Covid announced for County Cork Businesses

Cork County Council is calling on relevant businesses operating from commercially rated premises to avail of the Small Business Assistance Scheme for Covid (SBASC) fund which can assist with fixed costs following the ongoing impact of Covid-19 restrictions. This fund, launched by the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, will supplement the €34 million awarded to County Cork businesses and administered by the Council under the Business Restart Grant Scheme.

The grant is available as a contribution towards fixed costs to assist a business to remain operational for an eventual re-opening. It is intended for businesses with operating costs that do not qualify for the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), operated by the Revenue Commissioners. The scheme covers the period 1st January 2021 to 30th June 2021. Each eligible applicant will receive a payment of €4,000 with an additional payment of €4,000 from May 2021 to applicants continuing to meet the scheme eligibility criteria.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Mary Linehan Foley welcomed the opening of online applications for the fund saying:

“The past twelve months have raised unforeseen challenges to every sector of life, and the resilience, adaptability and creativity abundant in Cork County have never been more important. This new Small Business Assistance Scheme will enable the Council to provide further support for small businesses, which play a vital role not just in our local economies, but in the fabric of social and community life throughout our towns and villages. I encourage Cork County businesses to check if they are eligible for this support, so that we can work together to restore our vibrant economy once restrictions allow.”

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey noted the Council’s continuing role in supporting business:

“While the last year has brought about many changes, Cork County Council has remained steadfast in pursuing its mission to support the businesses and communities of Cork County. The Small Business Assistance Scheme for Covid will add much needed support to local businesses in the county and enabling us to prepare, as a community, for our economic recovery. The Council’s support for businesses to date has seen close collaboration countywide through Project ACT, with the Council and its elected representatives, alongside the business and community groups of our towns and villages, developing targeted interventions to support our local economies. It has also seen €34 million provided as support to County Cork businesses through the Restart Grant and Restart Grant Plus, administered through our Economic Development, Enterprise and Tourism section. Our Local Enterprise Offices also continue to provide support to Small and Medium Enterprises. I hope to see a strong uptake of this new support in the county, which will make a meaningful difference to many businesses.”

Interested businesses in County Cork operating from a ratable property can apply online through the Council’s Customer Service Portal, www.YourCouncil.ie. The closing date for receipt of applications for Quarter 1, 2021 is April 21st. The Council has established a dedicated helpline for queries on (021) 4208000 and email sbasc@corkcoco.ie

 

Scéim Cúnaimh do Ghnólachtaí Beaga le linn Covid (SBASC)

Tá Comhairle Contae Chorcaí ag éileamh ar ghnólachtaí ábhartha atá ag feidhmiú ó áitribh le ráta tráchtála leas a bhaint as ciste na Scéime Cúnaimh do Ghnólachtaí Beaga le linn Covid (SBASC) a chabhróidh le costais sheasta tar éis thionchar leanúnach srianta Covid-19. Cuirfidh an ciste seo, arna sheoladh ag an Roinn Fiontar, Trádála & Fostaíochta, leis an €34 milliún a bhronntar roimhe seo ar ghnólachtaí Chontae Chorcaí agus arna riar ag an gComhairle faoin Scéim Deontais Atosaithe Gnó.

Tá an deontas ar fáil mar ranníocaíocht i dtreo costais sheasta chun cabhrú le gnólachtaí fanúint ag feidhmiú le haghaidh athoscailt faoi dheireadh. Tá sé beartaithe do ghnólachtaí a bhfuil costais oibriúcháin acu nach gcáilíonn don Scéim Tacaíochta Srianta COVID (CRSS),  a fheidhmíonn na Coimisinéirí Ioncaim. Clúdaíonn an scéim an tréimhse 1 Eanáir 2021 go 30 Meitheamh 2021. Gheobhaidh gach iarratasóir incháilithe íocaíocht de €4,000 le híocaíocht bhreise de €4,000 ó Bhealtaine 2021 le hiarratasóirí a leanfaidh de chritéir incháilitheachta na scéime a chomhlíonadh.

D’fháiltigh Méara Chontae Chorcaí, an Clr. Mary Linehan Foley, roimh oscailt an phróisis iarratais ar líne seo don chiste ag rá:

“D'éirigh a lán dúshláin gan choinne do gach earnáil den saol le bliain anuas, agus tá an athléimneacht, an inoiriúnaitheacht agus an chruthaitheacht atá flúirseach i gContae Chorcaí níos tábhachtaí anois ná riamh. Cuirfidh an Scéim nua Cúnaimh do Ghnólachtaí Beaga ar chumas na Comhairle tuilleadh tacaíochta a sholáthar do ghnólachtaí beaga, a bhfuil ról ríthábhachtach acu ní amháin inár ngeilleagar áitiúla, ach mar chuid de shaol shóisialta agus phobail ar fud ár mbailte agus sráidbhailte a chruthú. Molaim do ghnólachtaí Chontae Chorcaí seiceáil an bhfuil siad incháilithe don tacaíocht seo, ionas gur féidir linn oibriú le chéile chun ár ngeilleagar beoga a athbhunú a luaithe a cheadaíonn srianta. "

Thug Tim Lucey, Príomhfheidhmeannach Chomhairle Contae Chorcaí, faoi deara ról leanúnach na Comhairle i dtacú le gnó:

“Cé gur tháinig go leor athruithe i rith na bliana seo caite, d’fhan Comhairle Contae Chorcaí go diongbháilte agus í ag leanúint leis a misean chun tacú le gnólachtaí agus pobail Chontae Chorcaí. Cuirfidh an Scéim Cúnaimh do Ghnólachtaí Beaga le linn Covid tacaíocht a bhfuil géarghá léi do ghnólachtaí áitiúla sa chontae agus cuirfidh sé ar ár gcumas ullmhú, mar phobal, dár dtéarnamh eacnamaíoch. Go dtí seo, le tacaíocht na Comhairle do ghnólachtaí go dlúthchomhoibriú ar fud na tíre trí Project ACT, leis an gComhairle agus a hionadaithe tofa, in éineacht le grúpaí gnó agus pobail inár mbailte agus ár sráidbhailte, ag forbairt idirghabhálacha spriocdhírithe chun tacú lenár ngeilleagar áitiúla. Tá €34 milliún curtha ar fáil freisin mar thacaíocht do ghnólachtaí Chontae Chorcaí tríd an Deontas Atosaithe agus Deontas Atosaithe Plus, arna riar trínár rannán um Fhorbairt Eacnamaíochta, Fiontar agus Turasóireacht. Leanann ár nOifigí Fiontair Áitiúla ag soláthar tacaíochta d’fhiontair Bheaga agus Mheánmhéide. Tá súil agam go nglacfar go láidir leis an tacaíocht nua seo sa chontae, rud a dhéanfaidh difríocht shuntasach do go leor gnólachtaí. "

Is féidir le gnólachtaí leasmhara i gContae Chorcaí atá ag feidhmiú ó mhaoin inrátaithe iarratas a dhéanamh ar líne trí Thairseach Seirbhíse do Chustaiméirí na Comhairle, www.YourCouncil.ie. Is é an 21ú hAibreán an dáta deiridh chun iarratais a fháil do Ráithe 1, 2021. Bhunaigh an Chomhairle líne chabhrach tiomnaithe : (021) 4208000 agus seoladh ríomhphost :sbasc@corkcoco.ie le haghaidh ceisteanna