Grant Process

Step 1 - Eligibility for funding - only certain types of business are eligible for grants. If you are receiving certain types of other state aid you are not eligible for funding (PLEASE READ IN DETAIL)

  • Please note, it is essential to fully investigate the Eligibility Requirements of these grants before applying.
  • Financial assistance is for businesses with manufacturing or a potential to export its products and/or services. If you have any queries please contact us to discuss your application (Tel: 061 557499).
  • Local Enterprise Office Limerick can offer funding to start-ups or established small businesses which:
    • Operate from Limerick City & County
    • Have less than 10 employees. We fund sole traders as well as partnerships and limited companies  
    • Operate in the areas of:
      • Manufacturing (including software development) and/or
      • Internationally Traded Services  (i.e. businesses which export or which have the real potential to do so). We also fund businesses whose activities attract tourism to Ireland
      • Retailers (eg. coffee shops) and localservices are NOT eligible for any funding 
  • If you are meet the support criteria Finance is available for qualifying projects by way of grants and repayable loans.
  • Your grant application and approval should be before you incur any costs or before you hire a new employee (in the case of employment grants).  
  • A business availing of JOPBSPLUS cannot receive aid from other State sources for the employment costs of that same employee. Applicants are  not eligible to claim both JOBSPLUS and Priming or Business Development grants for the same employee salaries. If applying subsequently to LEO Limerick after receiving JOBSPLUS, the JOBSPLUS aid must be declared .

Step 2 - Develop Your Business Plan

  • The Local Enterprise Office offers a range of business seminars for exploring your business idea and 'Start Your Own Business' training courses that help you develop your Business Plan and financial projections.
  • Once you have a Draft Business Plan it is useful to get some feedback. You might consider applying for the Local Enterprise Office Mentor Programme to help prepare your application.

Step 3 - Other Sources of Finance for Your Small Business

Step 4 - Grant Process (Read step 1 above)

  • If you have applied for Enterprise Ireland or have received Enterprise Ireland funding/ Innovation Voucher or JobPlus funding you will need to declare this. This excludes you from receiving Local Enterprise Office funding. We double check but this saves us time.
  • Please note we can only accept a limited number of applications per round. It is advisable not to wait until the deadline day to submit your application. Any applications which are submitted after our quota has been reached will be put forward to the next round.
  • Please note that businesses assisted from Local Enterprise Office are considered; ‘beneficiaries of aid under the 07-13 ROP and must accept their inclusion in the list of beneficiaries published in accordance with point (d) of Article 7(2) of the Implementation Regulation’

To register your interest in applying for Grant Aid please complete the Expression of Interest Form

2024 - Relevant Dates for submission of LEO Limerick Projects

 

Final Dates for Submission to LEO                                 Evaluation and Approval Panel Meeting Date   

Friday January 26th                                                            Tuesday February 27th

Friday March 22nd                                                             Tuesday April 23rd

Friday 17th May                                                                  Tuesday June 18th

Friday 21st June                                                                  Tuesday July 23rd

Friday 6th September                                                        Tuesday 8th October

Friday 25th October                                                           Tuesday November 26th