Overview

A Priming Grant is a business start-up grant, available to micro enterprises within the first 18 months of start-up.

Priming grants may be available for sole traders, partnerships, community groups or limited companies that fulfill the following criteria:

• Located within County Clare

• A business which on growth may or may not fit the Enterprise Ireland portfolio

• A business employing up to 10 employees 

• A manufacturing or internationally traded services business 

• A Domestically traded Service business with the potential to trade internationally

Eligible clients may be awarded a Priming Grant within the first eighteen months of setting up the business.

The maximum Priming Grant payable shall be 50% of the investment or €150,000 whichever is the lesser. 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 up to €15,000 per full time job created shall apply in respect of any employment support granted.

What does the Priming Grant Cover?

A Priming Grant may be paid to buy new equipment, help with direct business costs such as salary, rental costs, utilities, marketing, consultancy costs, and so on. Grant assistance is not available for the purchase of buildings, land or mobile assets. Grant expenditure may be considered under the following headings: -

• Capital Items - including fit out of workspace, office equipment, machinery, fixed technology costs, and so on

• Salary Costs - for the first year of employment

• Consultancy, Innovation, Marketing Costs - these may include packaging, brochures, business cards, trade fairs, website development, consultancy fees and other marketing initiatives.

• General overhead costs - these include, for example, utilities set up and rental or accomodation costs

How to apply for a Priming Grant?

Contact Us to discuss your needs with one our Team.

Click here for details on Closing Dates for Receipt of Grant Applications

*Businesses with 10 employees or more may be eligible, please contact your Local Enterprise Office advisor for more information.