LEADER Funding and Support for Business in South & West Mayo

Calling on all business owners, graduates, members of the farming community, budding entrepreneurs and those who are long term or recently unemployed with a business idea, as well as community leaders in County Mayo to the launch of:

LEADER4Enterprise

Programme Launch

Wednesday 7th November 2012

1.00pm - 2.30pm Knockranny Hotel, Westport

6.00pm - 7.30pm McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris

LEADER4Enterprise is a free 9-month programme for new and existing businesses in south and west Mayo. The aim of the programme is to encourage and help businesses to apply for grant aid under the LEADER Rural Development Programme. You are invited to attend one of these launch events and also to share this invitation with your circle of colleagues and associates.

LEADER4Enterprise participants will receive tailored support in areas of business planning and grant applications. You will also have the opportunity to attend idea development and business planning workshop. One-to-one mentoring on topics such as sources of funding, market research, sales and marketing, branding, financial forecasting, and business management is also included.

LEADER4Enterprise is funded by South West Mayo Development Company, which administers LEADER grants under the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme in south and west Mayo that now includes the areas of Achill, Ballycroy and Tourmakeady.

To register your interest, please contact leader4enterprise@gmail.com or telephone 098 41950.

Admission is free of charge.

LEADER4Enterprise is a nine month programme for new and existing businesses in the south and west Mayo area. The programme will be launched on Wednesday 7th November 2012 in Knockranny House Hotel,Westport at 1.00pm - 2.30pm; and in The McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris at 6.00pm - 7.30pm.

The aim of this exciting new programme is to let people know about the LEADER funding available to rural businesses to develop new projects and create jobs in the south and west Mayo area. Speaking in advance of the launch Gerry O'Neill, CEO of South West Mayo Development said ‘We look forward to the launch of the LEADER4Enterprise programme and we encourage as many people as possible to attend. The aim of the programme is to support eligible local businesses in moving their idea to reality with the help of LEADER funding".

Business owners, members of the farming community, budding entrepreneurs, people with innovative business ideas as well as community leaders are invited to attend the launch events and to extend this invitation to their contacts and associates. Admission is free of charge however registration is recommended in advance.

LEADER4Enterprise is a South West Mayo Development funded programme and is free of charge to selected participants. The company administers the LEADER Rural Development Programme in south and west Mayo and this now includes the former Gaeltacht areas of Achill, Ballycroy and Tourmakeady. The team of expert consultants at Blueprint Coaching and Training will deliver the nine-month programme.

Participants admitted to the nine-month programme will receive support in key areas such as business planning and grant applications. The programme will also include workshops on financial forecasting, sources of funding, market research, sales and marketing, branding and business management for example.

‘We are inviting anyone who has a new business idea or is thinking of growing their business to come along and register for this programme. The LEADER funding rules will be demystified and participants will be guided through the application process and supported to apply for grants for eligible projects, which has been recently increased to 75% of capital costs, to a maximum grant of €150,000,' said Evelyn Cormican, Blueprint Coaching and Training.

The LEADER programme has already been very successful in helping local businesses to start and grow in the south and west Mayo area. The LEADER4Enterprise programme has been developed to make sure that LEADER funding continues to support innovative businesses that have the potential to create and sustain local jobs. If your business is different and will not compete with other local businesses, then this programme may be the one for you.

Funding is available to many different types of business including farm diversification into non-agricultural activities, rural tourism and the creation of new and the expansion of existing enterprises in local services, information technology, creative sector, manufacturing to name a few.

To register your interest in LEADER4Enterprise, please email leader4enterprise@gmail.com or telephone 098-41950.