Over 100 key stakeholders and business interests attended the launch of the new County Carlow “inCarlow” Investment brand and campaign devised to support the relevant job creation agencies, particularly IDA and Enterprise Ireland, in their quest to stimulate inward investment and indigenous business development in County Carlow.
The brand builds on the story of success that is County Carlow’s entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial teams across industry and acknowledges a history of opportunity and success for companies who innovate and have international ambition. Launching the brand event included the acknowledgement of 10 companies in celebrating their excellence in bringing County Carlow to the fore in economic achievements. These companies included leaders from Netwatch, Silver Spear Gin, Walsh Whiskey, MSD, Arboretum, Burren Pre-cast, Codd Mushrooms, National Ploughing Association, Swans Electrical and Robert Quinn Ltd.
“inCarlow” offers a suite of new marketing tools including a brand-new website, promotional video, brochures, which will be used to support Carlow County Council, IDA and Enterprise Ireland in their work to stimulate inward investment to County Carlow. During 2019, Carlow County Council will lead a variety of investment activities and projects such as the development of a new inCarlow Start Up Programme, InCarlow Student Innovation Programme, InCarlow direct marketing activities led by Carlow County Council’s economic development team in partnership with key stakeholders.
Speaking at the launch, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, Cllr. Brian O’Donoghue said “we as elected members welcome this campaign and would encourage everybody in the county to get behind inCarlow and reach out to their contacts in order to promote County Carlow as a destination of opportunity for inward investment and a location of indigenous business growth and engage with our local enterprise office in order to help realise international opportunities” , O’Donoghue continued to say “I recently had the pleasure of meeting economic development professionals and representatives from across the Globe as part of our recent visit to Tempe Arizona and there was significant interest in forming international partnerships with County Carlow. Now is the time for County Carlow to utilize its worldwide connections and goodwill in order to build a different future for the County”.
Kathleen Holohan , Chief Executive of Carlow County Council speaking at the launch said “we in Carlow County Council have a clear role in leading and supporting the promotion and development of County Carlow as an ideal place to develop indigenous enterprise and attract foreign direct investment, in partnership with key stakeholders”, Holohan continued to say “2019 will mark five years since the establishment of our Local Enterprise Office and we now have the people , the resources and the networks in place, in order to ensure a campaign and brand like “inCarlow” will yield results for the county in terms of job creation, innovation and business development”. Holohan continued to say “we know that County Carlow has a unique offering and our highly talented workforce and low cost of doing business is a proven attraction for companies to develop and grow.” Holohan concluded by saying “our greatest asset is our people and the network they create, which provides a unique entrepreneurial environment, I commend them for their vision, their success, their innovation and their ultimate ambition in making County Carlow the ideal enterprise hub for the region”.
Concluding the launch , David Walsh of Netwatch said “Netwatch is a Global company but more importantly it is a Carlow Company and we are very proud of that.” Walsh continued to say “inCarlow” provides all of us with the opportunity to shout about the message that County Carlow is the ideal place to develop and locate a business, with its proximity to Dublin, innovative workforce, two Institutions of Higher Education and most importantly a network that welcomes, embraces and supports one another in order to achieve business success”.
Ends - For further details contact Kieran Comerford on 086-8252037 E-mail: kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie
