Unlock export markets with help from Local Enterprise Office Offaly
A new type of grant is now available through Local Enterprise Office Offaly to help more small businesses in Offaly develop products and services that will unlock export markets.
The grant is called: ‘Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters’ and can cover up to 50% of qualifying expenditure, up to a maximum of €2,500 (excluding VAT). The grant is designed to help micro enterprises explore, develop and unlock new overseas markets for their products and services, within Europe and beyond.
The Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters’ grant can help part-fund the costs of:
- Attending international Trade Fairs and renting exhibition space to meet potential customers face-to-face.
- Developing export-focused websites and marketing materials and the translation of these materials into foreign languages, to communicate directly with new target audiences overseas.
- Investigating new ways and processes to develop export business, such as setting up a new business model or fulfilling non-regulatory technical requirements.
If you want unlock export markets….Take the first steps by talking to the team here at your Local Enterprise Office.
Geraldine Beirne is on hand to answer your questions.
If this grant will support the development of your business (and if your business is eligible), Geraldine will ask you to fill out a short application form.
You can contact Geraldine by telephone on 057 9357480 or by email to geraldine.beirne@leo.offalycoco.ie.
Top Tip: Start researching the costs of your planned expenditure and getting written quotations as soon as possible. However, it’s important to remember that applications can only be submitted to your Local Enterprise Office before you incur any expenditure which are potentially “eligible costs”.
Don’t forget…
The maximum Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters grant is €2,500 (excluding VAT), up to a maximum of 50% of eligible costs. Micro enterprises cannot receive more than one Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters’ grant per year.
Eligibility criteria, and general conditions of the Financial Support Instruments apply.
The Local Enterprise Offices are co-funded by the Irish Government and the European Regional Development Fund 2014-2020.
Technical Assistance for Micro Exporters’ Grant
Grant terms, eligible projects and expenditure
Grant terms:
• Grant Covers 50% of eligible costs (net of vat) to a max of €2,500.
• Applications must be made prior to any expenditure being incurred
• Payments will be made to approved projects on receipt of proof of payment of all qualifying and approved expenses.
• Successful applicants should consider using an Enterprise Ireland Mentor to develop an export/marketing plan.
Projects eligible for support include:
• Enterprises not employing more than 10 people;
• Enterprises located within the geographic location of the Local Enterprise Office
• Enterprises operating in the commercial sphere
• Enterprises must demonstrate a market for their proposed product/service
• Enterprises engaged in manufacturing or internationally traded services
• Innovative businesses with prototype products
• Enterprises must not have received any funding for this proposal from any other source
Eligible expenditure categories:
• Participation at trade fairs and shows covering Trade Show Exhibitor costs including rental/fees relating to space/stands; *
• Participation at international trade networking events organised through the Enterprise Europe Network;
• Development of specific Marketing Materials aimed at exploring new export markets;
• Translation, e.g. of existing material (booklets, webpages, etc. for export markets;
• Development of export related websites;
• Investigation of new internal or external processes to develop export business, e.g. new business model or the carrying out of non-regulatory technical requirements;
*Note - Economy Flight Costs are eligible with other travel and subsistence costs subject to the Local Enterprise Office maximum limits.
