Council launches "new enterprise ideas" competition

Westmeath County Council has announced a 'New Enterprise Ideas' competition designed to inspire and generate new enterprise development in Westmeath and to stimulate, encourage and nurture entrepreneurial talent. The objective of the competition is to encourage new enterprise development and assist in the translation of creative ideas into new projects or ventures. The competition is open to individuals or teams with a business idea they wish to develop, which should be original, be the basis of viable enterprises and can demonstrate the potential for growth. The type of enterprise should be one that would be ordinarily permitted or open to consideration within the Enterprise and Employment Matrix in the Westmeath County Development Plan 2008 - 2014 (this matrix will be available with application forms). Entries will only be accepted from individuals or teams or companies registered since the 1st September 2008 and that in any event will not have begun trading by the closing date for receipt of applications on the 13th March 2009. If you have a business idea you think could be a winner and you can you put together a plan to make it happen and if you want to get advice and feedback on your idea, then enter the 'New Enterprise Ideas 2009' Competition. The winner will receive access to a rent-free enterprise unit in the new Castlepollard Enterprise Centre, for a period of twelve months. This will give the potential business a professional front and assist the business to develop. The winner will also be given expert business advice and support from Westmeath County Enterprise Board to help put their business idea on the road to commercial success. The value of the award excluding the business advice and support from Westmeath County Enterprise Board, is an estimated €10,000 dependent on the enterprise space that may be required. The competition will have two stages, the first of which will concentrate on the business idea. This is the essential basis of the business i.e. - what is the product, who are the customers, what will the business offer them and why will they buy it. Based on the outline business ideas, finalists will then be selected by the Judging Panel and invited to submit business plans for the second stage of the competition that will hopefully produce a winning enterprise idea. To enter the competition a clear concise and convincing outline of the business idea will need to be submitted on the official entry form. Competition guidelines and entry forms will be available to download from Westmeath County Council"s website at www.westmeathcoco.ie or from the County Enterprise Board website at www.westmeath-enterprise.ie or from the Community & Enterprise Section, Westmeath County Council - Tel: 044 9332137 or from the County Enterprise Board Offices at Church Avenue, Mullingar, Tel: 044 9349222 or by e-mail: mstenson@westmeathcoco.ie