Enterprising Partnership supporting Job Creation in County Carlow
79 jobs created by Local Enterprise Office investment companies in 2019
Carlow County Council’s – Local Enterprise Office business support programmes supported by Enterprise Ireland created 79 jobs in County Carlow by investment clients during 2019 which was announced today at the National Enterprise Awards County Final hosted in the Woodford Dolmen Hotel.
Speaking about the announcement for 2019 , Kathleen Holohan , Chief Executive with Carlow County Council , “we are delighted to once again have a positive net job creation output from the investments in Manufacturing and Internationally traded services companies supported by Enterprise Ireland carried out by the Local Enterprise Office”. “In County Carlow we have 217 active investment clients who collectively support over 1209 jobs in the Local Economy”. “The value of these jobs is estimated at €42.1 million annually to the County Carlow economy and play an important role in supporting many individuals and families across our County each year”. Holohan continued to say, “coupled with the investment programme supported by Enterprise Ireland we also roll out a business support programme which had 118 training courses , networking events and programme in 2019 with over 1432 participants also supported by Enterprise Ireland which is equally important in supporting other sectors in County Carlow”.
Welcoming the announcement of performance figures for 2019 , Cllr. John Pender , Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council said “I am delighted with the support we as a Council can give the business community in County Carlow as part of this partnership with Enterprise Ireland” , Pender continued to say “The key message we would like to get across during Local Enterprise Week is that if you want to either start or grow your own business in 2020, come and talk to your Local Enterprise Office who are there to help your business ambitions to become a reality”
Explaining the role of Carlow County Council in supporting the business community in County Carlow , Michael Rainey , Director of Services with said “in Carlow our Local Enterprise Office has three pillars to its annual programme” . “The first pillar is our business support programme supported by Enterprise Ireland , the second our economic development pillar which supports a variety of other projects such as festivals and events , tourism , retail sector , Carlow Town Development Forum funded by Carlow County Council and finally our special projects programme which includes the development and delivery of projects and opportunities for the County under the Town & Village Renewal Scheme , Rural Regeneration & Development , Urban Regeneration & Development Fund , Agri-Food Tourism Fund , EU funding and other opportunity area’s for the County in partnership with the wider County Council”. Rainey continued to say “annually the Local Enterprise Office team will manage over €3million euros of investment in the County and I am delighted that Enterprise Ireland has awarded the Council a 12% increase in funding for 2020 for with our initial allocation of over €1m euros for the operation and expansion of this service going forward” Rainey concluded by saying in 2019 , the LEO team conducted over 412 one to one meetings with people who wanted to explore an opportunity for themselves and their County in 2019 while also 401 sessions of expert advice was given by our mentors during the year also”
Kieran Comerford , Head of Enterprise with Carlow County Council’s – Local Enterprise Office speaking at the awards said “These figures highlight the important role that Local Enterprise Office Carlow is playing in creating jobs and sustaining small businesses in the region. The LEOs are the first engagement any entrepreneur or small business owner should have when they want to develop or grow their idea or company. Every day Local Enterprise Offices help small businesses to get off the ground, overcome challenges, hire new staff, fund innovation, prepare for Brexit and plan for the future. The range of supports on offer from the Local Enterprise Office will help anyone seeking to start or grow a small business through highly practical services such as professional business and management training, mentoring, networking opportunities, finance and much more.”
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For further information contact Kieran Comerford on 086-8252037 or e-mail kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie
