www.startingabusinessinireland.com Click here to access the Oak Tree Press website

Assistance
DONEGAL COUNTY ENTERPRISE BOARD

Enterprise Fund Business Centre, Ballyraine, Letterkenny, Co Donegal

T: (074) 916 0735
F: (074) 916 0783
E: info@donegalenterprise.ie
W: www.donegalenterprise.ie
Contact: Michael Tunney, CEO

Categories: Debt; E-Business; Equity; Grants; Information; Mentoring; Start-up Training; Training

Donegal County Enterprise Board provides direct supports (capital, employment or feasibility grant aid) and indirect supports (mentoring, management development, or other capacity building programmes.)

Through its First Stop Shop, it provides access to business information, business advice and counselling. It operates a dedicated website (Virtual One-Stop-Shop — see also BusinessInformationPoint.com) for enterprise information and assistance.

The Donegal County Enterprise Fund provides low interest finance (maximum IR£50,000 — typically IR£15,000 to IR£25,000) to qualifying projects, through a revolving loan fund, established with assistance from the International Fund for Ireland.

The Fund also manages the Donegal Enterprise Assistance Loan (DEAL) fund — a low-interest loan scheme aimed at encouraging long-term unemployed people to start their own business.

The County & City Enterprise Boards have four types of financial incentives available:

  • Feasibility Study Grant (BMW region: maximum €6,350; South and East region: maximum €5,100).
  • Capital (/Refundable Capital) Grant up to €75,000.
  • Employment (/Refundable Employment) Grant up to €7,500 per new employee up to 10 employees. The employment grant may also apply to a person starting up his/her own business.
  • Equity Finance – up to €75,000 can be invested in qualifying limited companies in the form of Preference Share Investment.

The County & City Enterprise Boards provide a full Information and Advisory service to new and existing entrepreneurs on all aspects of setting up and running a business.

The Boards operate in their own areas as a “single point of contact and referral service” for all State agencies and organisations, providing information on enterprise incentives, business structures, taxation, regulatory obligations, workspace availability, market research, upskilling opportunities, business and strategic planning etc. Most Boards have available extensive libraries and information centres, which are at the disposal of clients.