Local Enterprise Office Donegal has launched a new website showcasing successful businesses that it has supported across the county. The website, entitled “Donegal Stories”, features success stories from businesses of all shapes and sizes – from Carndonagh to Bundoran – operating across a range of sectors, including manufacturing, food, drinks, technology, services and craft and design.
Speaking at the launch, Chief Executive of Donegal County Council, John McLaughlin, who officially launched the website, said: “The Donegal Stories website contains so many inspirational success stories from businesses of all shapes and sizes operating across Donegal. The website highlights the key role that Local Enterprise Office plays in the direction and delivery of economic development in the county – it has been supporting businesses in Donegal for decades, and never more so than throughout the past year”.
“When businesses – such as those featured in the Donegal Stories website – work with their Local Enterprise Office, they are not just accessing their resources, but they are also opening the door to the broader range of supports and services on offer from the Local Authority” John added. “In 2020, under Restart Grant Schemes, over 4,000 individual grant payments totalling almost €19m were paid out in grant funding to businesses across Donegal. While times are exceptionally tough, this website is a timely reminder of the many resilient businesses in Donegal that continue to push forward.”
Michael Tunney, Head of Enterprise Donegal said: “2020 was a very difficult year for Donegal businesses and these challenges are likely to continue well into 2021, but the key message is that businesses are not alone. Last year we approved 1,274 small business grants totalling €2.7M. In direct response to the pandemic, we issued 574 Business Continuity Vouchers totalling €917K to businesses across Donegal; we provided 1,500 expert mentoring hours with €530K support for start-ups and expansion. We also granted 462 Trading Online Vouchers totalling over €1M in supports to help Donegal businesses expand their reach and trade to the world online; having an online shop was particularly important during the pandemic as it has offered a new route to market for many businesses affected by closures.”
“The level of change and transformation that we witnessed in such a short space of time can feel overwhelming” Michael added “but it is also an opportunity to reflect on what we have learned over the years, and a chance to review the practices we need to continue implementing and examine what new ones we must adopt to ensure continued growth and innovation.”
Brenda Hegarty Assistant Head of Enterprise said: “We are delighted to launch Donegal Stories, the new home of business success stories supported by Local Enterprise Office Donegal. The economy in Donegal is very reliant on the success of the micro business sector and it is vital that we all work collaboratively to support these businesses to bounce back and hopefully move forward at this challenging time. In terms of the next generation of entrepreneurs, we are really encouraged with the strong level of interest and enquiries regarding the setting-up of new businesses in the county, with strong demand for our Start your own Business programmes and Start Up supports for 2021. So, despite these testing times, the entrepreneurial future is bright for Donegal and we look forward to adding lots more success stories to this website over the coming years.”
For more information, visit www.donegalstories.ie
