Meath County Enterprise Board

Grants

Financial Assistance

Grants available from the Meath County Enterprise Board Ltd. for eligible projects include:

Feasibility Study Grants: Up to 50% of eligible expenditure up to a maximum of €5,080.
Capital Grants: Up to 50% of eligible expenditure up to a maximum of €75,000

Employment Grants: Up to €7,500 for each newly created full-time job up to a maximum of €75,000 per individual project.

Criteria for Financial Assistance

To qualify for grant aid the promoters must demonstrate that:

The project is in the commercial sphere and is capable of obtaining economic viability without ongoing Exchequer or EU assistance.
The project is in manufacturing or internationally traded services.
There is a market for the proposed product or service.
Adequate overall finance will be available to fund the project.
That the person, group or company possesses the management and technical capacity to implement the proposed project.
Projects must have the capacity to create new direct employment either full or part-time or seasonal.

Projects will not be assisted where:

These are in areas of enterprise that there is already sufficient firms participating and the proposal would lead to job displacement elsewhere.
Areas of enterprise on the EU and National Sensitive Lists.
Areas of enterprise coming under other schemes or operational programmes.
Projects are contrary to National policy.
Projects involving primary agricultural production.
Where investment is in mobile assets.
Projects involving purely sales and distribution e.g. retail outlets will not be assisted.

Export Marketing Grants 2008

The fund can part-fund the cost of Travel & Subsistence, Trade Fair Attendance/Exhibiting, and the creation of marketing material specifically for overseas markets.

Grant Terms

·Grant covers 50% of eligible costs (subject to a maximum of €3,000 per company)

·Applications must be made prior to any expenditure being incurred.

·Payment will be made to approved projects on receipt of proof of payment of all qualifying and approved expenses.

Projects eligible for support include:

·Businesses engaged in manufacturing

·Internationally traded services

·Innovative projects

Companies seeking financial support must be located in County Meathand have less than 10 employees.

They also must:

·be in the commercial sphere

·be capable of attaining economic viability

·demonstrate a market for their proposed product / service

·have the necessary management and technical skills

·have capacity for growth and job creation

Web Development Grants 2008

Meath County Enterprise Board is making available website development funding for small businesses. The grant is designed to part-fund the cost of creating or developing a commercial web presence.

Grant Terms

·Grant covers 50% of eligible costs up to a Max of €2,500. (excl. VAT)

·Only Third Party costs qualify i.e. cost of work you have commissioned others to do.

·Eligible costs include website development and e-commerce applications.

·Expenditure incurred prior to grant approval is ineligible

·All applications are subject to evaluation and priority will be given to applicants who do not currently have a web presence.

Selection criteria includes

·Commercialisation of the business through the Web; Export Potential; Quality of the proposal and support eligibility of the Enterprise Board.

·As the number of grants available in 2007 is limited early applications are advised and the Board’s decision in the matter shall be final.

Projects eligible for support include: