Closing Date for JFC Innovation Awards Extended to December

The deadline for submitting entries for the JFC Innovation Awards for Rural Business has been extended for a further two weeks to 13 December, 2006. The requirement to submit a plan for any new business idea or new enterprise has led to requests for more time and Teagasc has responded by extending the closing date from Thursday 30 November to Wednesday 13 December.

Paul McCarthy, Teagasc Rural Business Specialist, said that with the level of interest in the competition it was necessary to extend the deadline to allow more time for people to complete their entries.

The JFC Innovation Awards for Rural Business is a new award scheme aimed at farmers and the rural community. It was launched at the recent Teagasc Rural Entrepreneurship Conference in Mullingar. The competition aims to stimulate budding entrepreneurs to develop their business ideas and plans. Prizes are awarded for business ideas and plans, so there is no requirement to have a business up and running to enter. The prize fund is €30,000 comprising cash, advertising, mentoring and business support. The overall winner's prize is valued at €15,000 and there are three separate categories:

1. Environmental/Energy
2. Manufacturing/Technology
3. Rural Tourism/ Value Added Food Production/Services

Entrants must complete the entry form and submit a plan for their idea. Blank business plans are available on the Teagasc website at Starting Your Own Business. Wednesday 13 December, 2006 is the extended closing date for entries. Regional and category winners will be announced in February 2007 and the all-Ireland final takes place in March 2007.

Ireland continually features near the top of the list of the most entrepreneurially active countries in Europe as published in the annual Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) Report. This award scheme aims to encourage that entrepreneurial spirit in rural areas, particularly within the farming community.

The rural landscape is changing and through innovative ideas rural dwellers can take advantage of this change. Individuals are continually looking at new business options and this competition provides the incentive to explore these ideas.

The awards are sponsored by JFC, Teagasc and the Irish Farmers' Journal. Full entry kits are available from Teagasc Athenry, telephone: 091-845200 or on www.teagasc.ie.