The prize fund available for this year’s Kerry Rural Biz competition has increased to €17,500 in total. The increase was announced by the sponsors at the launch the competition in Killarney this week. The competition aims to encourage and support people in Rural Areas to come forward with new business ideas and develop them into viable businesses where possible. The competition was founded by South Kerry Development Partnership in 2008 and has since expanded county wide with North & East Kerry Development joining in with the project.
The prize money for the competition comes from private and public sponsors through the Local Community Development Programme, The Rural Development Programme and Kerry County Enterprise Board. Private sponsors include Radio Kerry, Dan Tim O’Sullivan, McCarthy Insurance Group and Lee Strand
The overall first prize of €5,000 is for entries from any part of the county sponsored by the County Enterprise Board. There is then a first prize for entrants from the South Kerry area of €2,000 as well as an equipment grant prize up to €1,500. A second prize of an equipment grant of €1,000 is also available in South Kerry.
In the North Kerry area the first prize is €1,500 and an additional equipment grant prize of up to €2,000 is also included. The second prize for North Kerry is €1,000.
Both South Kerry Development Partnership and North & East Kerry Development also have a specific prize available for projects entering from their respective Gaeltacht areas.
Speaking at the launch SKDP’s Rural Development Manager Joseph McCrohan thanked all of the sponsors for their continued support, particularly in these difficult economic times. “Many of the entrants in this competition down the years have gone on to develop very successful businesses bringing sustainable employment opportunities to the county and we would encourage anyone out there who has a business idea to come forward and enter,” Joseph said.
Seamus O’Hara of NEKD said they are delighted with the response they have had since getting involved in the competition and echoed Joseph’s call for people with ideas to come forward and enter. “The great thing about this competition is that many of those who have succeeded in developing a business as a result have not actually won the main prizes but have availed of the supports of the organisations involved to establish themselves in business” Seamus added.
Entry forms are available from any of the South Kerry Development Partnership Offices in Cahersiveen, Killorglin, Killarney or Kenmare or on the SKDP website www.southkerry.ie. In the North Kerry area the entry forms are available through the NEKD offices in Tralee, Listowel and Castleisland or the website www.nekd.ie
The closing date for applications is FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4th and details of where to send applications is on the form.
To download an Application Form please click on the following link Kerry Rural Biz Competition 2013
