January - December 2015 Report

In the period January to December 2015, the Local Enterprise Office approved grant assistance amounting to €867,134 for 40 projects which will leverage a capital investment in excess of €3.5m.  Projects supported included 18 start ups, 16 business expansions and 6 feasibility studies and will yield 149 jobs in the County over the next 2-3 years.  During the year the LEO paid out €686,295 to 46 projects bringing the total paid out since the establishment of the LEO to almost €1.1m to 95 small firms.   LEO portfolio firms surveyed at year end highlighted a net increase in employment levels of 111 jobs on the previous year. Portfolio Development was undertaken with 278 firms to assist with their development, expansion and in some cases graduation to Enterprise Ireland. In 2015, over 3,680 enquiries were dealt with in Tipperary  and under Measure 2 -Entrepreneurial & Capability Development the LEO supported 2,284 individuals to avail of training, management development, mentors, and a range of soft support grants such as web site development, export market development, exhibition and other grants at a cost €539,559.  Dedicated programmes were designed and delivered to support target groups such as the food, steel fabrication, women in business, ICT, young entrepreneurs  etc.