Frequently Asked Questions about the Wexford County Enterprise Board

Q1.What are the objectives of the Wexford County Enterprise Board?

Q2. Who are the members of the Wexford County Enterprise Board?

Q3. How is the Wexford County Enterprise Board funded?

Q4. What is the role of the Wexford County Enterprise Board?

Q5. What sort of projects are assisted by Wexford County Enterprise Board?

Q6. If a project does not qualify for grant assistance can it avail of any other assistance?

Q7. Do projects from the service sector qualify for grant assistance?

Q8. If an enterprise is located outside of Wexford can it obtain assistance from the Wexford County Enterprise Board?

Q1.What are  the objectives of the Wexford County Enterprise Board?

A1. The principal objectives of the Board are:

• to fill a gap identified in the existing  range of support services for local enterprise initiatives
• to develop and promote the development of viable, micro-enterprises
• to assist business projects with direct or indirect enterprise support

Q2. Who are  the members of the Wexford County Enterprise Board?

A2. The Wexford County Enterprise Board  includes elected public representatives, state agency personnel, social  partners at local level, local business and voluntary sector representatives.

The latter group includes representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, local
enterprise groups and people engaged in promoting enterprise.

Q3. How is  the Wexford County Enterprise Board funded?

A3. The EU and the Irish Government provide funding under the National Development Plan 2007-2013. The amount granted to  each Board is based on an assessment of its enterprise plan and the needs and  opportunities of its area.

Q4. What is  the role of the Wexford County Enterprise Board?

A4. The Wexford County Enterprise Board does the  following:

• Provides direct and refundable financial  supports to start ups and small businesses
• Provides training programmes and seminars to start up businesses and
  small businesses
• Provides advice, counselling and mentoring help to individuals, groups and
  new enterprises

Q5. What  sort of projects are assisted by Wexford County Enterprise Board?

A5. Projects from a company, association, local  community and individuals which have following characteristics :

•  is commercially viable
•  has job creation potential
•  can demonstrate that labour shortages do not exist
• Target projects are those with the potential  to employ up to ten persons.

A project may not qualify for assistance:

• If it is too big or with investment costs in excess of €250,000
• If it is already working with other agencies e.g. Enterprise Ireland
• If it is covered by an existing EU grant scheme

A project, which can proceed without grant  assistance only by taking market share from existing businesses cannot be  assisted financially. These conditions would exclude most retail and  professional services.

Q6. If a  project does not qualify for grant assistance can it avail of any other
assistance?

A6. Yes, the introduction of a wide range of  non-financial supports represents a significant improvement in National support  for the micro enterprise sector.

It is possible for a project to avail of non-financial supports, e.g.,  training, information, mentoring etc. even when financial assistance would not  be granted.

Q7. Do  projects from the service sector qualify for grant assistance?

A7. Service sector projects may qualify for  financial assistance provided they conform to the Enterprise Plan of the Board but are subject to displacement and dead-weight restrictions.

Service sector businesses should satisfy the  following criteria:

• Have a real capacity to grow by identifying  specific niches that offer genuine opportunities for expansion
• The market served is one where there is a  real potential for a net increase in employment growth, but not at the expense  of businesses already in the market i.e. no displacement
• The service offered will foster innovation,  either within the supported business or within the business to which the service is being provided
• The service offered will improve the quality  of the service provision in the sector
• The service projects promoted by unemployed  or women returning to the work-force, may be assisted, but must demonstrate a market niche which excludes displacement
• It is an internationally traded enterprise

Q8. If an enterprise is located outside of Wexford can it obtain assistance from the Wexford County Enterprise Board?

A8. No, an enterprise must be based within the county boundary to avail of assistance from the County Enterprise Board. There are 35 Enterprise Boards in the state, each catering for a  specific geographic area. The board will advise you to which board you should make an application.

A comprehensive listing and location of all 35 boards can be found on www.enterpriseboards.ie