Support for business creation and development
Objective of the measure
To create employment opportunities through promoting entrepreneurship and developing the economic infrastructure in rural areas.
Eligible Applicants
Applicant businesses must be located in a rural area and have less than 10 employees (FTE – Full Time Equivalents) and an annual turnover of less than euros 2 million. These limits apply to individual or linked companies.
They may be;
- private individuals, aged over 18 years;
- private companies or partnerships
- social economy enterprises*.
Definition: Social Economy Enterprise* (SEE) are viewed as those organisations that have a social, community or ethical purpose, operate using a commercial business model and have a legal form appropriate to a not -for personal profit status.
This measure will not provide support for applicants eligible under measures 3.1 and 3.3
What type of projects can be supported?
Activities could be similar to those funded via the Northern Ireland LEADER+ Programme. Types of projects that might be supported under this Measure could include:
• Day-care facilities
• Waste management facilities
• Crafts
• Traditional skills
• Innovative manufacturing businesses
• Light engineering
• Innovative services
• Renewable energy initiatives (as part of a larger project)
Grant Rates
|
Activity |
Level of Support |
Maximum funding |
|
Grant aid towards capital and resource costs |
Up to 50% for the private sector Up to 75% for social economy enterprises including Community Groups |
£50 000 |
|
Marketing support |
Up to 50% for the private sector Up to 75% for social economy enterprises, including Community Groups |
£5 000 in any one of the activities, or as a composite of two or three |
|
Bespoke training intrinsic to individual applications which is not on offer from any other provider |
||
|
Technical support to help new businesses become established and to help existing businesses to consolidate and expand |
Social economy businesses may provide match funding in the form of contribution-in-kind (20%) and /or cash contributions (5%).
