Taoiseach announces Competitive Feasibility Fund for counties Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow
The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, today (17 December 2015) announced a new Enterprise Ireland €200,000 Competitive Feasibility Fund for the Midlands and Mid-East Region. The Fund, which can provide up to €25,000 to successful applicants, is aimed at stimulating innovative start-ups and creating jobs and growth in the region.
The Fund call will open for applications from entrepreneurs and early stage start-up companies in counties Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow, on Monday 11th January 2016 and will close at 3pm on Monday 25th January 2016.
The purpose of the Competitive Feasibility Fund is to enable a promoter to assess the viability and the market potential of their business idea. Through the Fund, Enterprise Ireland is seeking to support business ideas that are likely to achieve exports and significant growth within three to four years, with sales of €1m+ per annum and employment of 10 or more.
Announcing the Fund, the Taoiseach said:
“Supporting entrepreneurs and early stage businesses to start, grow, export and create jobs is a key part of the Government's plan to keep the recovery going. Competitive Feasibility Funds are all about helping innovative start-up companies to develop businesses that will create jobs in every region in Ireland. If you are a potential entrepreneur or early stage business with an innovative start-up idea targeting export markets, and are based in the Midlands and Mid-East regions, then this Competitive Feasibility Fund can help you get started”.
The Fund is open to individuals, early-stage companies or prospective businesses involved in manufacturing and internationally traded services, including sectors such as Internet, Games, Apps, Cloud Computing, Enterprise Software, Lifesciences, Food, Beverages, Consumer Products, Industrial Products, Engineering, Medical Devices and e-Health.
Tom Hayes, Head of Entrepreneurship & Regions at Enterprise Ireland, said: “This €200,000 Fund is an investment by Enterprise Ireland in supporting the development of high potential start-up companies in counties Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. This new Fund will give a welcome boost to those entrepreneurs with innovative and ambitious ideas. The Fund is open to people from the region including those who may have emigrated and wish to return home, as well as potential entrepreneurs and early stage businesses, with an idea that could be transformed into a company with export potential”.
Full details of the Fund including the Application Form are available on the Enterprise Ireland web site: www.enterprise-ireland.com/cffmidlands
The call open date for this fund is Monday 11th January 2016 and the closing date for applications is 3pm on Monday 25th January 2016.
