Getting Back to Business: Business Supports

As the process of gradually removing the unprecedented restrictions in place during the Covid 19 Emergency continues, the huge task of reopening businesses and rebuilding economic activity in the area begins. Two supports are now available to businesses in the South West Inner City Area (including The Liberties, Kilmainham, Inchicore, Dolphin’s Barn and Rialto) to assist with reopening:

Restart Grant

Dublin City Council is administering Restart Grants, provided by the Department for Business, Enterprise & Innovation. Grants ranging from €2,000 – €10,000 are available to qualifying businesses (mainly independent, small businesses) across the city. This grant scheme is in place until 31st August 2020.

More details including eligibility criteria and an online application can be found here>>> Link to Dublin City Council Website. There’s also a handy recent webinar on the subject.

Shopfront Improvement Scheme 2020 – South West Inner City Areas (Supplementary Scheme)

The Shopfront Improvement Scheme 2020 (South West Inner City Areas) operated by Dublin City Council South Central Area Office has been extended to 30th June 2020 (grants offered subject to funding). This scheme has operated in a limited number of areas over the past few years to assist with area regeneration and urban village renewal.

There are some modifications to the supplementary scheme: the upper limit of grants is now set at €2,000 and the scheme is only open to businessholders (rather than “and building owners” as with the original scheme), and works are restricted to ground floor shopfronts.  The scheme can assist businesses who are looking to reopen with small supporting funding to undertake cleaning, minor repair or refurbishment of shopfronts, or to put in place measures necessary to assist with social distancing.

More details on the Shopfront Improvement Scheme 2020 below or contact Stephen Coyne, Economic Development Officer SWIC at stephen.coyne@dublincity.ie or tel: 0831949009.

Outdoor Seating 

Dublin City Council is now inviting applications from businesses regarding tables and chairs in the public realm. All applications will be assessed from a public safety, fire safety and pedestrian circulation point of view. Where a licence is granted, a charge-free period of 6 months to operate the licence will be in place. More details here.