Business Incentive Scheme 2026

Longford County Council is providing a Revised Business Incentive Scheme – 2026 to encourage the productive occupation of vacant commercial premises in the County.

The Council wants to support enterprises to establish and get a foothold in Longford and   understands the challenges facing businesses moving into premises left unoccupied for a period of time.

The purpose of this scheme is to give incentive to both landlords and new aspiring business owners/leasees to occupy vacant premises by lowering entry costs through a grant support scheme related to the level of rates payable on the property. 

By encouraging the occupation of vacant premises, the Council will help reduce vacancy levels and potential dereliction, improve the physical appearance of our Towns and Business Parks, and improve the consumer experience hopefully bringing benefit to all businesses in a location.

This scheme sets out the mechanism, eligibility and conditions for new businesses to receive financial assistance from the Council for the purpose to locate in premises that have been vacant for a period exceeding 6 months.

The Scheme will be reviewed on an annual basis via the Economic & Rural Enterprise SPC

Aims of the Scheme

• To encourage and support a qualifying business to occupy vacant commercial or industrial premises registered on the Local Authority Register of Vacant Premises (produced annually by the Council’s Income Generating Unit).
• To facilitate opportunities for new or expanding businesses to locate in County Longford.
• To facilitate the development of new retail, office and related commercial and industrial services that will revitalise commercial centres in the County.
• To support the revitalisation of town centres increasing commercial diversity and vibrancy.
• To demonstrate the serious commitment of the Council to contribute to economic development, regeneration and growth in the County.

Competition Clause:

Potential displacement will be a primary concern in determining the eligibility of any application to the scheme. The executive may deem a project to be ineligible if it has the potential to lead to displacement of existing enterprises.

Eligibility

The Scheme will be available to:

• a newly established business
• an existing business relocating or expanding from outside the County
• an existing business maintaining current location and expanding into a new location

The Scheme is applicable to the use of existing rated commercial properties that are listed as vacant on Longford Local Authorities Register of Vacant Properties, produced by 31st January each year. (no exceptions)

The following prerequisites apply to the subject premises:

1. The premises must have been continuously vacant for a minimum of 6 months
2. The property must be commercially rated
3. There are no outstanding enforcement proceedings or monies due to the Council under the Planning & Development Acts 200-2014 or the Derelict Sites Act 1990.
4. There are no outstanding or current commercial rates, or any other local authority charges owing on the subject premises for which the grant is sought.
5. The property must have the appropriate planning permission for the type of business in operation.
6. The qualifying uses under this scheme are shops, offices, commercial and industrial businesses. 

The proposed use must not generally include any of the uses or types of businesses in attached Schedule A. The Council may at its discretion award a grant to a premises included in Schedule A where in its opinion there may be a specific local need for that type of premises.

Qualifying Applicants

The following requirements apply to all applicants:

• The applicant must be the owner or lessee of the subject premises.
• The applicant must have a current Tax Clearance Certificate.
• The applicant must sign up for Standing Order payments of any charges due to the Council.
• The application must be accompanied by a lease agreement whereby the parties agree to a minimum rolling three-year lease period.

The following conditions will lead to immediate disqualification and/or cessation of grant aid under the rules of this Scheme:

1. Failure to remain current on relevent charges will result in the immediate cessation of the Scheme approval and the removal of supports.

1. Changes to the usage or any of above that materially alter the original application for grant aid.

Incentive Details 

Grants may be paid by the Council to qualifying applicants in respect of the rates for the subject premises as follows:

End of Year 1 -  Grant payable equivalent to 70% of rate paid for subject year (i.e. 12 month period of trading)

End of Year 2 -  Grant payable equivalent to 50% of rate paid for subject year

End of Year 3 -  Grant payable equivalent to 25% of rate paid for subject year

This scheme only makes provision for payment of a grant towards the costs associated with the occupation of qualifying vacant properties and does not mitigate in any way the obligation of qualifying applicants to discharge all fees associated with other approvals which may be required to be obtained from Council i.e. planning fees, s.254 licences, and development contributions.

Successful applicants can apply for drawdown within 1 month of the full payment of rates due for a particular year.

Effective period for operation of Scheme

This scheme will be available up to and including 31st December 2026.The Scheme will be reviewed at the last Economic & Rural Enterprise SPC of each year with a view to its continuation or otherwise into the following and subsequent years.

The scheme will continue to apply to an approved applicant for 3 years even if the scheme is subsequently withdrawn or amended.

Assessment of Applications

Each application will be assessed in accordance with this Scheme by the Business Incentive Scheme sub-committee.

The Council will interpret each application on face value according to its own discretion. The Council may request further information before or after the evaluation of an application. The Council may communicate to the applicant those aspects of the application that could lead to disqualification or refusal of a grant. The Council may accept an amended application following a request for more information or amendments to the original application.  

Any grant aid awarded on foot of a successful application will be subject to the availability of the necessary funds to implement this Scheme.

Details of the Scheme together with application form will be available to view and download online at www.longfordcoco.ie or can be obtained from the County Council offices. 

Completed application forms with attached documentation to be submitted to Local Enterprise Office, Longford County Council.

Email: marydonohoe@longfordcoco.ie

Click here for full details on the Business Incentive Scheme

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