The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD and five government ministers including Enterprise Ministers Bruton & Nash joined Board members and tenants past and present with members of the community in Enterprise House last Friday (15th May 2015) to celebrate 10 years of supported employment creation. The event focused on past achievements and the amount of jobs created and looked forward to another 10 productive years.
Various speakers marked the success of the centre among them Kieran Comerford, Head of Enterprise with Carlow County Councils – Local Enterprise Office. Comerford commented that “While the attraction of high quality FDI projects from abroad was a focus of the Local Enterprise Office & IDA, we recognise that building a strong vibrant indigenous enterprise sector is critical to the future prosperity of County Carlow and Enterprise House has proven to be a strategic asset which has enabled over 60 companies to develop and grow over the past decade”
Speaking about the development of the Centre from Start Up to establishment stage, Comerford commented that “Surviving the initial start-up phase is often the most difficult task for a business and this was no different for Enterprise House”. Comerford complimented the Board of the Centre, its sponsors and finance providers without whose help and support, this community driven project would not have gotten off the ground".
Minister Gerald Nash, Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister Richard Bruton speaking at the event in Enterprise House.
Speaking at the event An Taoiseach, commented that he was impressed by the extent of local co-operation in County Carlow and that Enterprise House had been an example of how communities can work together to make a difference on the ground. He acknowledged that the Centre had been supported by a very wide range of stakeholders, ranging from contributions from the industrial and business sectors in Carlow, contributions by the Institute of Technology, the Chamber of Commerce, Carlow County Council, as well as from the local State enterprise agencies & Enterprise Ireland.
Carlow Community Enterprise Centres Ltd was set up in 1993 as a partnership between local businesses, voluntary groups, state agencies and local public representatives to encourage employment throughout the county.
Hopes were high in 1995 when the centre first opened, however its performance has exceeded all expectations and this facility is now recognised as one of the most successful community enterprise centres in the country.
It provides units with subsidised rents for offices, manufacturing, research, food preparation and production and is the ideal location for businesses at incubation and developmental stages.
Today, Carlow Community Enterprise Centre employs over 150 people in 28 businesses and since its inception over 620 full time jobs have been created by the various occupants.
For more information on Carlow Community Enterprise Centre log onto www.enterprisehouse.ie
Pictured left to right: Ann Phelan TD, Minister Gerald Nash, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Pat Deering TD, Minister Richard Bruton, Head of Enterprise Kieran Comerford, CEO of Enterprise Ireland Julie Sinnamon and Fergal Browne TD, before the 10 year celebration at Enterprise House Carlow.
