Business expansion grant application form

Local Enterprise Office Dun-Laoghaire Rathdown is one of 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) that have been established to act as a 'First Stop Shop' for anyone seeking information and support on starting or growing a business in Ireland.

Description

The Business Expansion grant is designed to assist the business in its growth phase after the initial 18 month start-up period.

Business Expansion grants may be awarded to sole traders, partnerships or limited companies that fulfil the following criteria:

• The enterprise must not employ more than 10 people; In some cases, depending on certain criteria, businesses with 10 employees or more may be eligible, please contact your Local Enterprise Office advisor for more information on eligibility;
• The enterprise must be established, registered and operate within the geographic location of the Local Enterprise Office;
• The enterprise must operate in the commercial sphere;
• The enterprise must demonstrate a market for the product/service;
• The enterprise must have potential for growth in domestic and/or export markets and also potential for new job creation.

The maximum Business Expansion Grant payable shall be 50% of the investment or €150,000 whichever is the lesser.

• Capital items
• Salary costs
• Consultancy/Innovation/Marketing costs
• General overhead costs

Grants over €80,000 and up to €150,000 shall be the exception and shall only apply in the case of projects that clearly demonstrate a potential to graduate to Enterprise Ireland and/or to export internationally. In all other cases, the maximum grant shall be 50% of the investment or €80,000 whichever is the lesser. Subject to the 50% limit, a maximum grant of €15,000 per full time job created shall apply in respect of any employment support granted.

All grants of a value greater than or equal to €50,000 or with a cumulative value of €100,000 over three years require Enterprise Ireland Approval

A business that had availed of a Priming Grant will be ineligible to apply for a Business Expansion grant until 12 months after approval/drawdown date of Priming Grant whichever is the later except in cases of exceptional merit and where less than the maximum Priming Grant was drawn down, and subject to the provisions in respect of 'De Minimus state aid'.

Eligibility

LEOs can assist in the establishment and/or development of new and existing enterprises (limited company, individuals/sole trader, cooperatives and partnerships) provided that such enterprises/projects are capable of attaining commercial viability and subject to the following eligibility criteria:

• Priority must be given to enterprises in the manufacturing or internationally traded services sectors which over time can develop into strong export entities and graduate to the Enterprise Ireland portfolio;
• Salary support may be offered to unique tourism services projects that are focused predominantly on generating revenues from overseas visitors and which do not give rise to deadweight and/or displacement in the local economy;
• This grant aid does not support those areas such as retail enterprises, personal services (eg hairdressers, gardeners, creches etc), professional services (accountants, solicitors etc), construction/local building services, as this is considered to give rise to unacceptable deadweight (where the project would have proceeded anyway) and/or displacement (where the projects imply displace business from other players in the market).
• The sector of the economy in which an enterprise is operating or intends to operate
• The size or proposed size of the enterprise
• Any expenditure incurred, prior to receipt of application form, will not be eligible for grant support.
• The grant aid is considered to not give rise to unacceptable/ineligible business activities or deadweight (where the project would have proceeded anyway)

• Enterprise Ireland / IDA / Údarás na Gaeltachta clients
• Domestically focused retail, personal services, professional services and construction services.
• Are operating in the coal or steel sectors.
• Are involved in activities that Local Enterprise Offices considers as ineligible or as involving an unacceptable reputational risk. Ineligible activities include activities relating to:

1. The gambling sector, including "gaming" (as defined in the Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956)
2. Adult entertainment
3. Tobacco and tobacco related products.
4. Cannabis-based products which are not authorised as medicines.

• Any queries in relating to the eligibility will be directed to the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment/Enterprise Ireland Plicy department who will assess the case.