Priming Grants
(For Businesses Trading < 18 months)
A Priming Grant is a business start-up grant, available to micro enterprises within the first 18 months of start-up.
Priming grants may be available for sole traders, partnerships or limited companies that fulfil the following criteria:
- Located and operating within the LEO’s geographic area
- A business which on growth will fit the Enterprise Ireland portfolio
- A business employing up to 10 employees
- A manufacturing or internationally traded services business
- A domestically traded service business with the potential to trade internationally
- Need for money and having regard to deadweight and displacement
Eligible clients may be awarded a Priming Grant within the first eighteen months of setting up the business.
The maximum Priming Grant payable shall be 50% of the investment or €150,000 whichever is the lesser.
Expenditure may be considered under the following headings:
- Capital items
- Salary costs
- Consultancy/Innovation/Marketing costs
- General overhead costs
All grants of a value greater than or equal to €50,000 or with a cumulative value of €100,000 over three years require Enterprise Ireland Approval. Grants over €80,000 and up to €150,000 shall be the exception and shall only apply in the case of projects that clearly demonstrate a potential to graduate to Enterprise Ireland. In all other cases, the maximum grant shall be 50% of the investment or €80,000 whichever is the lesser. Subject to the 50% limit, a maximum grant of €15,000 per full time job created shall apply in respect of any employment support granted.
Please contact the Local Enterprise Office Westmeath directly to discuss eligibility for the Priming Grant either via phone or email:
Phone: 0449338945
Email: localenterprise@westmeathcoco.ie
Application Forms for all LEO Grant Supports are available in both Irish and English.
