The Business Expansion grant is designed to assist the business in its growth phase after the initial 18-month start-up period. A number of our clients have availed of this loan over the last 6 months. Business Expansion Grants may be awarded to sole traders, partnerships or limited companies that fulfil the following criteria:

· The enterprise must not employ more than 10 people; In some cases, depending on certain criteria, businesses with 10 employees or more may be eligible, please contact your Local Enterprise Office for more information on eligibility;

· The enterprise must be established, registered and operate within the geographic location of the Local Enterprise Office;

· The enterprise must operate in the commercial sphere;

· The enterprise must demonstrate a market for the product/service;

· The enterprise must have potential for growth in domestic and/or export markets and also potential for new job creation.

Eligible Costs:

The maximum 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

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 and/or to export internationally. 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.

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.

Terms & Conditions:

· A current valid Business Tax Clearance Certificate required · You must meet eligibility criteria

· You must meet with a Business Advisor before you submit an application form. To do so, complete the Business Support Form. Click here to find out about how to apply

· A business that had availed of a Priming Grant will be ineligible to apply for a Business Expansion grant until 12 months after approval/drawdown date of Priming Grant whichever is the later except in cases of exceptional merit and where less than the maximum Priming Grant was drawn down, and subject to the provisions in respect of ‘De Minimus state aid’

Eligible Projects:

· Businesses registered and operating in Dublin 1 – 13, 17 and 20

· The enterprise must not employ more than 10 people; In some cases, depending on certain criteria, businesses with 10 employees or more may be eligible, please contact your Local Enterprise Office for more information on eligibility

· Be engaged in manufacturing

· Internationally traded services (details of overseas customers)

· Innovative projects with export potential (Detail in your application)

· Salary support may be offered to unique tourism services projects, focused predominantly on generating revenues from overseas visitors. It must be unique i.e. would not happen without our support and/or displace existing projects in the local economy

· Be a Full-time for profit/commercial businesses

· Be capable of attaining economic viability

· Demonstrate a commercial market for your proposed product or service

· Have adequate overall finance available for the project (detail in your application how you will fund the business)

· Have the necessary management and technical skills

· Have capacity for growth and new job creation

· NOT be Enterprise Ireland clients and not receiving Enterprise Ireland funding

Priority is given to enterprises which over time can develop into strong export entities and who over time will be eligible to access Enterprise Ireland supports

Ineligible Projects:

· Professional services, consultancy, retail and distribution

· Areas of enterprise which involve displacement of existing jobs or businesses e.g. Builders, Hairdressers, Cafes, Pubs, Hotels, General Printers, Construction, Trades etc. Where there are a large number of operators within a sector, our independent evaluation committee has to have regard to the implications of grants aiding one or some, possibly putting the others at a competitive disadvantage.

· Conferences and Seminars

· Projects which are contrary to public policy

· Duplication of support for projects which would be eligible for assistance from other State Agencies of EU funded Operational Programmes

· Existing Firms which already have an established relationship with Enterprise Ireland or IDA. Please do not apply to the Local Enterprise Office in Dublin City if you have an existing application for the same project under consideration by Enterprise Ireland

· Projects involving primary agricultural production

· Mobile assets, i.e. cars, motor vans, laptops, mobile machinery etc.

· Projects deemed to be capable of proceeding without our support

· Projects essentially comprising importation and distribution