Michael Rainey, Interim Chief Executive; Melissa Doyle, Business Advisor; Cllr. Brian O’Donoghue, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council; Seamus Doran, Assistant Head of Economic Development & Enterprise; Jim Woods, Business Advisor; Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development & Enterprise; Pierce Kavanagh, Economic Development Officer.
Carlow County Council and its Local Enterprise Office, a partnership with Enterprise Ireland established in 2014, published an Impact Report today to highlight the support it provided to the business community and wider enterprise eco-system in County Carlow in 2022.
(Click Here to access Impact Report)
The Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Carlow is the ‘first stop shop’ for anyone thinking about starting or growing a business in Carlow. While the enterprise environment has been radically altered since the establishment of the LEOs in 2014, LEO Carlow continues its commitment to a single mission: to provide new and existing small businesses with the expert advice, tailored training and financial supports they need to help them thrive. One of the fundamental principles behind the design and operation of the LEOs is that they are uniquely placed to be both key stakeholders in the national enterprise strategy to create jobs in Ireland and at the same time remain closely connected to the local enterprise ecosystem.
Launching the report, Cllr. Brian O’Donoghue, Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council said “Given the success of Local Enterprise Week 2023 last week where over 400 individuals attended programme and seminars we are highlighting some of the work the Local Enterprise Office delivered to support the business community in County Carlow in 2022.” Cllr. O’Donoghue continued to say “This Impact Report shows the huge investment the Local Enterprise Office has committed to the enterprise environment in Carlow, both in 2022 and more broadly since the LEO was established 9 years ago. The proof of the impact of the LEO on Carlow is that LEO supported companies are now providing over 1,100 jobs in our county.”
The Local Enterprise Office was established by Carlow County Council as part of a partnership with Enterprise Ireland. Commenting on the supports provided by the office, Michael Rainey, Interim Chief Executive with Carlow County Council said “The development of a specialist Department within Carlow County Council which brings together business support, economic development and special project development, including EU Funding, has provided the Council with an opportunity to build new partnerships, not just in the delivery of the National Programme of supports in partnership with Enterprise Ireland but also in the delivery of a variety of complimentary supports and projects”.
Partnership has been a key feature in the work of the Local Enterprise Office in Carlow since its establishment in 2014. Commenting on this theme Kieran Comerford , Head of Economic Development & Enterprise with Carlow County Council said “We have developed and fostered a variety of partnerships at Local, National and International Level since the establishment of the Local Enterprise Office to develop a collective vision for the County and to support the wider Enterprise Eco-system. Through these partnerships and with the support of our elected members our team can deliver for County Carlow and promote Carlow as an ideal place to start, develop and grow a business.”
For further information on the Local Enterprise Office services contact 059-9129783 or log onto www.localenterprise.ie/carlow
