LEADER funding boost for county
IN excess of €1.6 million in LEADER grant aid is available to start-ups and expanding businesses throughout County Wexford in 2020.
The LEADER Programme focuses on promoting social inclusion, poverty reduction and economic development in rural areas.
Through LEADER, specialised engineering companies such as Slaney Precision Ltd, Ballycarney, DC Fabrication Ltd, Blackwater and ARC Engineering Ltd, Foulksmills have been supported to expand their businesses.
In this, the final year of the current
LEADER Programme, grant aid of up to 50% of eligible costs is now available to businesses that have up to 100 employees.
Grant aid of up to €200,000 per business is available, subject to specific criteria. This is expected to result in the creation of 160 new jobs as well as sustaining 386 existing jobs, thereby having a significant impact on the local economy.
This presents a huge opportunity for businesses across a range of sectors, to avail of substantial grant aid to enable them to expand or diversify their business.
Since the commencement of the LEAD
ER Programme in late 2016, almost €3 million in grant aid has been allocated to 54 Wexford businesses in the tourism, food, creative industry, specialised engineering and other sectors.
Decisions on LEADER funding happen at a local level and are targeted at key areas in need of the greatest support thereby benefiting a wide range of businesses throughout the county.
To discuss the eligibility of your business for LEADER funding, talk to Tom Bermingham or Helena Dempsey at WLD or email: leader@wld.