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Maximise your Access to Services, Grants & Benefits through the MARA Project
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Business Creation and Development
Support for Creation and Development of Private Sector and Social Economy Businesses
Aim: To provide support to existing and new start-up micro enterprises or social economy enterprises in order to:
- Improve capital infrastructure
- Create employment opportunities
- Develop the local rural economy
To be classed as a micro-enterprise or social economy enterprise and be eligible for support under this measure, businesses (including linked companies) must employ less than 10 full-time (or equivalent) staff and have an annual turnover of less than 2million Euro.
For examples of micro-business projects supported under the previous Rural Development Programme 2000-2006, please click here (Link to micro-business project profiles)
Activities which may be eligible for support under this Measure include:
- Light engineering & manufacturing
- Crafts
- Traditional skills
- Innovative services
What funding is available?
| Activity | Level of Support | Maximum Grant |
| Grant-aid towards capital and resource costs. | Up to 50% for the private sector Up to 75% social economy sector |
£50,000 |
Please note that the maximum grant aid towards marketing activities is £5,000. If your project includes a marketing element, the total maximum grant remains £50,000.
Where the total project cost is greater than £10,000, Community/Voluntary groups must be registered as a Community Interest Company, Limited Liability Partnership or Company limited by guarantee. Where the total project cost is £10,000 or less, the Community/Voluntary group must have a constitution in place.