Local Enterprise Office approves €386,032 funding to 24 Enterprise Projects during 2016
“Economic Development and Business Support are now entrenched in the support system of Local Government” and this is the key message from Carlow County Council’s Deputy Chief Executive, Dan McInerney, in the delivery of the year end approval figures for Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office, which totalled €386,032 allocated to twenty-four projects, with the potential to create 45 jobs during the coming year.
Speaking about the Council’s Business Support and Economic Development Unit, Mc Inerney commented “just over 2 years ago, Carlow County Council established its Local Enterprise Office, with a clear message that the role of the LEO was to support the business community and work with strategic partners in the development of economic development projects which have measureable impacts.” The key overarching objectives of the LEO structure is to be firstly as a facilitator of access to enterprise services, to promote and support enterprise at local level and to enable economic development projects. The LEO is funded by Carlow County Council, Enterprise Ireland and a variety of funding partners.
McInerney commented that “What we have learned in the past two years, is that by providing a one stop shop, as part of the overall local authority service, we can streamline services and also work with partners in an effective manner via the development of professional output based relationships which have economic benefit.” He finished by saying “we are fortunate also to have a proactive and progressive County Carlow Chamber of Commerce, who have introduced some excellent initiatives in the last year and are prepared to work with the Council and the various stakeholders, in the development of our county.”
Outlining the activities of Carlow County Council, the Cathaoirleach, Councillor John Murphy, stated that a key focus of the Council during 2016 was the development of a clear marketing message for investment in the County. “It is essential we have materials and processes developed, which attract both domestic and foreign investment into County Carlow”, understanding that “Companies are looking for locations they can showcase to their customers, as a place to visit. So Carlow’s assets such as VISUAL, the vibrant third and fourth level education sector and the beautiful rural landscape, are very important in terms of positivity and elevation of County Carlow as a great location.”
The Cathaoirleach welcomed the recent announcement that there has been eight IDA Ireland sponsored visits to Carlow in the first three quarters of 2016, according to figures provided in the Dáil. This is compared to just one visit in 2015 for the entire year. Councillor Murphy commented that “During the past year, the Council has worked effectively with the IDA and it is great to note that this has resulted in an increased interest in County Carlow.” “By working with partners, like the IDA, we can effectively market Carlow as a location for Multi-National companies to locate.” The Cathaoirleach concluded by saying “we acknowledge that there are challenges, however, the importance of the business community and the development and support of same, in delivering the solution, cannot be underestimated.”
Speaking about the work of the Local Enterprise Office, Kieran Comerford, Head of Enterprise, said “our activities cover a wide variety of areas, which include students, communities, the unemployed, entrepreneurs, investors and partners. The public only see the tip of the iceberg in terms of the efforts of the local enterprise office, the delivery of its mission and development of projects, which create the opportunities for entrepreneurs to create jobs.” Comerford continued to say “Early in 2017 we will hit the €1million mark, in the context of direct investments since the establishment of the Local Enterprise Office in 2014 and this, coupled with the economic development programme and business support programme, will start to show increased dividends during 2017.”
