ACORNS is a highly successful initiative to support female entrepreneurs living in rural Ireland, who wish to start and develop new businesses or have recently started a business. 

It is open to any woman with a new business based in any part of Co Louth — or an idea for a new venture they want to get off the ground.

Further information and relevant application form are available at www.acorns.ie.  There is no charge for participation. (Eligibility criteria below)

Eligibility Criteria - To be considered for ACORNS, applicants must:

• -Have set up a new business which has generated sales no earlier than the 1^st January 2017; or be actively planning a new venture and have made good progress towards getting the new venture off the ground. Indicators of actively planning a business would include organising the start-up team, sourcing equipment / facilities, money saved for the start-up, writing the business plan, etc.
• They must own or part-own the business which must be located in a rural area, that is in an area outside the administrative city boundaries of Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford; All locations throughout Co Louth are eligible
• They must commit to attending the Launch Forum over two days in October 2019 (14^th/15^th); the ACORNS Community Forum on 20^th and 21^st April 2020; the monthly meetings from November 2019 to March 2020; and give the required personal commitment to advancing their business ideas over the six-month programme duration; and
• They must expect to become an employer within three years.