Priming and Business Expansion Grants

Priming support is a business start-up grant to help fund the cost of starting a small business in South Dublin. It is for new businesses within the first 18 months after startup. Business Expansion support ( also referred to as Business Development support) is for businesses established and trading for more than 18 months. The Local Enterprise Office support in each project is strictly limited by the amount of eligible expenditure incurred ( max 50%).

LEO South Dublin financial supports are only available to clients based within our South Dublin administrative area. Please see the map below. If you would like to check if your address is based in our South Dublin LEO administrative area, please click the map to search your address. 

SD Area Map

Assessment Questionnaire

The overall maximum support is €80,000. In general, the level of funding will also relate to the level of employment provided in the short to medium term. Eligible costs are:

  • Capital Items - equipment, fittings, hardware & software. Mobile assets are excluded ( cars, vans, mobile phones)
  • Salary costs - for the first year of employment
  • Rental / Accommodation costs - where the cost is not already subsidised through State investment in the premises
  • Utility Set-Up costs - such as the installation of power, phone, and broadband
  • Marketing costs - including packaging design, brochures, trade fairs, websites and the adaption of these for export markets
  • Consultancy costs such as design fees, legal costs, accountancy, legal and architects fees
  • Business-specific training - specialised training for management and key personnel that is necessary for the development of the business and not generally available from South Dublin LEO.

Eligibility

To qualify for any of these funding supports, all projects must have the potential to be commercially viable within a reasonable time-frame, employ 10 or less and must be located within South Dublin County. Priority is given to manufacturing and internationally traded service projects (for details download ITS).

Projects in the following sectors cannot be supported financially:

  • Professional services
  • Construction & Allied Trades
  • Retailing & Distribution
  • Transportation
  • Printing & Publishing
  • Alternative Therapies & Complementary Medicine

However non - financial supports are available to businesses in these sectors.

The Process

  1. Complete the expression of interest form at the link above.
  2. This will be reviewed by a member of the Local Enterprise Office Team
  3. You will be contacted by a Business Adviser with directions on the next steps to take.

Capability Development

Clients are strongly encouraged to participate in the various business and management skills development offered by the Local Enterprise Office including the Mentor Programme