Today 11th September 2015, Minister Anne Phelan launched the Carlow County Council Retail Incentive Schemes which is designed to give a balanced support to start up, existing and developing Retail in County Carlow. The supports rolled out in partnership with Micro Finance Ireland & Department of Social Protection provide development supports, employment supports and loan funding for start up and developing enterprises. The scheme will be further enhanced in December 2015 with the addition of a Start Up Grant for particular area’s of County Carlow. 

Speaking at the launch of the scheme, Dan McInerney – A/Chief Executive said “Carlow County Council  are keen to support existing retail while also putting in place supports for start up retail which occupy currently vacant retail premises and provide essential employment, generate economic activity and improve the appearance of towns and villages”, speaking about the overall impact of the scheme McInerney continued by saying "There’s also a momentum and confidence element to this in that the more previously vacant retail units that businesses occupy, the more attractive the County Carlow business environment will be for further investors.”

Details of the scheme were announced by Kieran Comerford, Head of Enterprise, Carlow County Council, who said that the schemes are designed to provide a suite of supports based on the requirements of start up and developing business. Comerford said “We’ve listened to small business owners and people who have viable business ideas and one of the messages we hear consistently from them is that Retail needs a package of supports that takes into account the various aspects of their business”. Comerford concluded by saying that “the schemes which are now open for applications bring together the one stop shop concept in a real way by working in partnership with Micro Finance Ireland & Department of Social Protection to provide solutions of new, existing and growing companies".

Access to Finance has been identified as a critical issue for Start Up Retail and the scheme is rolled out in partnership with Micro Finance Ireland, its Chief Executive Michael Johnson said “It is vital that we continue to offer every possible support to the entrepreneurs who have the vision, energy and commitment to create jobs for themselves and others and Micro Finance Ireland are delighted be working with Carlow County Council to roll out this sector scheme"

Speaking at the launch Minister Phelan said “As well as the economic spinoff in job creation from this, there is also an important social aspect as we need to keep life in our city, towns and villages. I’m delighted to see these new measures put in place to expand the supports available from Carlow County Carlow for the SME Sector.”

For further information on the Scheme visit the Enterprise Development section of our website or contact Kieran Comerford on kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie or by calling 086/8252037