Offaly County Enterprise Board offers a wide range of financial assistance to help you start up your business or grow your existing business. We welcome enquiries from business for Grant Aid but unfortunately, we must adhere to strict guidelines on eligibility. 

Types of Grant Assistance

Broadly speaking, the two types of businesses that qualify for our grant schemes are those that are in manufacturing and those that are internationally traded, e.g. services that will be exported.
Feasibility/Innovation Grant
Priming Grants
Business Expansion Grant

We also have a Business Development Scheme whereby Offaly County Enterprise Board may make financial assistance available to qualifying clients for technical training, purchase of software, marketing assistance, trade fair support and website grants.

Business Development Scheme

How to Apply

We are happy to hear from anyone with a business idea, regardless of what stage they are at.  We provide a free information and advisory service to new and existing entrepreneurs on all aspects of setting up and running a business. However, we recommend that you read through the guidelines for each grant to check if your project is eligible for grant aid. If, having read that, you’re still not sure whether or not you’re eligible you can email one of our advisors to arrange a meeting or phone call to discuss further.

Our advisors will proceed with the application process if your business is eligible. If not, they will be able to talk you through our other services that can help you.

Deadlines for Receipt of Completed Applications 2012

Latest dates for receipt of completed applications are listed below. This applies to Feasibility/Priming/Business Expansion Grants only:

Deadline for Completed Applications        Board Meeting

January 11^th                        February 6^th

February 15^th                      March 5^th

March 14^th                          April 2^nd

April 11^th                            April 30^th

May 16^th                             June 11^th 

June 13^th                            July 2^nd

July 11^th                             July 30^th

August 15^th                         September 3^rd

September 12^th                   October 1^st

October 17^th                       November 5^th

November 14^th                    December 3^rd

The Evaluation Process

On receipt of a completed application, a member of staff will meet with you to discuss the project in detail. A file is then prepared and sent for Evaluation and Board consideration.

An Evaluation meeting is held every month where potential projects are assessed and either accepted, rejected or deferred for further information.

Successful projects are appraised by the Board and, following their approval, grant conditions are posted to the promoter. The normal application process is turned around in 6-8 weeks.