The 35 boards were created to stimulate economic development and to cultivate an ethos of local entrepreneurship.
Ireland also depends on its indigenous small and medium enterprises, (SMEs) for internal economic growth.
[citation needed] Funding for the Boards was provided by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment through the CEB Central Co-Ordination Unit under the National Development Plan 2007–2013 (NDP).
The CEBs could support individuals, firms and community groups provided that the proposed projects had the capacity to achieve commercial viability.
The provision of non-financial assistance could take the form of a wide range of business advice and information services, management capability and development programmes and e-Commerce training initiatives.