•Main documents required:

•These documents to be included if applicable:

•How your personal information is to be used and shared

•How to get a copy of any info held by LAG

•You must sign this form to give consent to the LAG and show your understanding of contents.

•LEADER funding has a limit of €200,000 - within the “de minimis” threshold for State aid

•A project only considered for grant aid if funding will not raise above the €200,000 ceiling of total aid during the three year period.

• Break it down into four sections:
  • Project & Promoter
  • Marketing
  • Innovation & Competition
  • Financial
     

•Introduce the project and where it is based.

•The Promoter: who is the promoter and the relevant skills and expertise of individual or organization.

•Project Background: Describe the project in detail – what it is and what it needs to get up and running

•Market Research: Shows the project is viable and the promoter knows the market.

•Marketing Strategy: The strategy to achieve market share to make the project viable.

•Innovation: Important element in LEADER

Describes how the project displays innovation

•Competition: Prove there is a market niche for the project.

No adverse affect on established enterprise in your community.

•Project Costs and Funding: Detailed costs/sources of matching funding

•3 year Financial Projections:

•Project Impact: The promoter, the wider community or wider environment.

•Draws together all elements into a convincing conclusion

•Links to LAG themes or sub-themes

•Links to LEADER cross-cutting issues of environment, climate change and innovation

•Links to priorities of the LAG and needs in Local Development Strategy (LDS)

•Quotations/Tenders must be obtained for each item of expenditure for which grant aid is sought.

•Familiarise yourself with the detailed requirements.

•Important to follow correct procurement procedures – See http://www.etenders.gov.ie/

•For existing companies 3 years of Financial records required; In general audited accounts are required

•Bank Statements for all accounts for at least 3 months in the applicants name required.

•Evidence of availability of matching funding (see next slide) and also of bridging finance.

•Note LEADER grants are paid retrospective to project spending.

•Matching funding - additional cash contribution required to meet project costs.

•Matching funding can come from private sources, or  from public sources in the case Community or organisation applications

•Public Matching Funding must come from other non-EU sources.

•VAT: All applicants must be VAT registered or, have written confirmation from Revenue Commissioners

•Tax Clearance Procedures:

–Grant payments require evidence of tax compliance on completion and/or payment stage.

–Supplier Tax Clearance required for payments over €10,000 (incl. VAT)

1.Funding process may take >6 months

2.Project can only start when Letter of Offer and Contract is signed and returned to the LAG.

3.Projects are subject to Departmental Inspections for 5 years post grant aid payment.

4.If project ceases within 5 years of receiving grant aid the full grant aid amount will be reclaimed with interest penalties.

•In Ireland more information can be found at http://www.nationalruralnetwork.ie/  or https://www.pobal.ie/FundingProgrammes/LEADER/Pages/LEADER.aspx

•Find out more about LEADER funding in other EU countries at https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/rural-development-2014-2020_en

•The European LAG database can be found at https://enrd.ec.europa.eu/leader-clld/lag-database_en