Dermot Leavy, chair of the board; Laura Leonard, WCD; and Cllr Bill Collentine at a planning meeting for the launch of the idea2enterprise programme by Westmeath Community Development on June 28 in Athlone and Mullingar.

Business owners, farmer, entrepreneurs, long-term or recently unemployed with a business idea, and community leaders are invited to attend the launch of idea2enterprise next week.

Westmeath Community Development's six-month programme of supports for new and existing businesses will be launched on Thursday June 28 in Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar at 5.30-7pm (and in The Creggan Court Hotel, Athlone at 1.30-3pm).

The aim is to create awareness of the supports available for rural businesses to access Leader funding, develop new projects and create jobs in rural Westmeath.

Westmeath Community Development administers Leader grants under the Rural Development Programme, which receives 55% of its funding from the EU and 45% from the Irish exchequer and places major emphasis on the implementation of innovative approaches to rural development.

Joe Potter, CEO of Westmeath Community Development, said: "The aim of the programme is to support businesses to apply for grant aids and to help eligible projects in making their idea a reality through Leader funding."

Participants admitted to the programme will receive support in business planning and grant application through idea development workshops, information on business planning, financial forecasting, sources of funding, market research, sales and marketing, branding and business management.