Leitrim - ONE CALL to Success provides you with one number to call to find out about the different aupport services available to you in setting up your business in Leitrim - 071 965 0496 or you can email us on onecall@leitrimcoco.ie The aim is to save you time by helping you to locate the most appropriate support for your type of business or the stage your business is at right now whether that be just an idea, starting up or growing.
There is a range of supports available to you to ensure the most efficient support in transforming your business idea into a new business.
Leitrim Development Company - the key supports Leitrim Development Company can provide to you are through:
- Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme - this allows unemployed people to retain social welfare benefits, while establishing a business. Supports include:
- Small grants
- Access to low interest loans
- One to One expert advice
- Start-up business courses
- Rural Development programme (Leader) - the business set up measures supported under this programme include:
- Diversification into non-agricultural activity
- Business creation and development
- Encouragement of tourism activities
- Basic services for the economy and rural population
- Training and Information
Applications may be submitted from sole traders, companies limited by guarantee, Partnerships, Companies having shared capital and co-operatives registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act, as well as other community and charities.
Leitrim County Enterprise Board - provides a range of financial supports designed to assist with the set-up and or further development of small scale businesses employing up to ten people. Supports include:
- Feasability/Innovation Grants - help to research market demand for a product/service to examine its sustainability. Expenditure may be considered under the following headings - innovation costs;own labour research; consultancy costs, miscellaneous e.g. phone, mileage
- Priming Grants - available within the first 18 months of start-up. Available to sole traders; community groups; partnerships or limited companies. Expenditure may be considered under the following headings - capital items; salary costs for the first year and must be full-time; rental/accommodation cost for first year only;utility costs; marketing costs; consultancy costs and business specific training.
- Business Expansion Grants - for businesses trading more than 18 months. Expenditure may be considered under the following headings - capital items; salary costs for the first year only; rental/accommodation cost for first year only;utility costs; marketing costs; consultancy costs and business specific training.
FÁS - provide assistance for businesses through the following:
- Training and employment programmes at national, sectoral, regional or company level in the form of funding;
- The Work Placement Programme allows a business to take on a person for work experience for a maximum of 9 months.
Leitrim County Council is the contact point for a number of services for new businesses e.g.
- Planning permission,
- Change of use for buildings;
- Road opening licence;
- Waste management;
- Access to water schemes for more rurally based business.
In addition Leitrim County Council can help by:
- Providing information on broadband providers in your area;
- Listing your business on the Leitrim Business Directory;
- Providing information on premises available for purchase/rent;
- Providing access to business information and newspapers/business magazines throughout its network of libraries;
- Providing free internet access in its library network;
- Bringing third level education access through the Leitrim Third Level Initiative.
Enterprise Ireland- Enterprise Ireland is the Irish Government agency responsible for the development and promotion of the indigenous business sector. Enterprise Ireland is particularly keen to speak to individuals who may be returning to Ireland and thinking of starting their own internationally focused business.
They are also very interested in working with individuals involved in third-level research, particularly those who have an interest in commercialising their research, as well as serial or repeat entrepreneurs who might consider setting up a business in the North West Region. Enterprise Ireland's High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) team provides hands-on support and advice to entrepreneurs and early stage companies that are considered by Enterprise Ireland to have an innovative product, service or technology, and have the potential to achieve exports sales and create employment. If you are thinking of starting a new business with export potential or are currently raising investment for your start-up venture, then you may qualify for support and investment. This section sets out the criteria for becoming an Enterprise Ireland HPSU client and the supports available to you.
IDA Ireland - works to bring investment into Ireland from overseas. the IDA has been successful in bring a range of International companies to Ireland e.g. Google, Facebook, Intel and in the case of Leitrim, the companies it works with include Bank of America, Elastometall, MCI and others.