Existing Businesses

BUSINESS EXPANSION SCHEME/SEED CAPITAL SCHEME

For information on these tax incentive schemes available to some new and expanding companies -

www.revenue.ie/leaflets/it55.pdf

CLAR - and Single to 3 phase ESB Connection initiative

The CLÁR programme (Ceantair Laga Ard-Riachtanais), launched in October 2001, is a targeted investment programme in rural areas. CLÁR complements both the RAPID programme for disadvantaged urban areas and RAPID 11, the programme for provincial towns. The programmes were introduced on foot of commitments in the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness.
The CLÁR programme now applies to rural areas in 18 counties. The areas selected for inclusion are those that suffered the greatest population decline from 1926 to 2002, with the exception of the Cooley Peninsula (which was included based on the serious difficulties caused there by Foot and Mouth Disease). A full list of CLAR areas is available on the Department's Website at www.pobail.ie.
The sixteen areas originally selected for inclusion in the CLÁR programme were those which suffered the greatest population decline from 1926 to 1996, with the exception of the Cooley Peninsula (which was included based on the serious difficulties caused there by Foot and Mouth Disease.) The average population loss in these regions was 50%.
For more information on the CLAR three phase electricity programme - The ESB 3-phase programme is currently on-hold.

www.pobail.ie/en/RAPIDandCLAR/CLAR/MoreaboutCLAR/

INNOVATION VOUCHERS

If you own or manage a small company and you have a business opportunity or problem that you want to explore, you could apply for an Innovation Voucher worth €5,000 from Enterprise Ireland.

The objective of the Innovation Voucher initiative is to build links between Ireland's public knowledge providers and small businesses and create a cultural shift in the small business community's approach to innovation

For more information on this scheme log on to: www.innovationvouchers .ie

REPORT OF SMALL BUSINESS FORUM

To download information on the recent report of the Small Business Forum - www.smallbusinessforum.ie

BMW REGIONAL ASSEMBLY - Innovate for Growth & Food Technology Transfer Programme - www.bmwassembly.ie

For further information on Innovative Actions contact Michael O' Brien, Programme Liaison Officer on (094) 9862970, e-mail: mobrien@bmwassembly.ie