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4 projects in the North East/North West receive funding through Enterprise Ireland's €2m LEO Competitive Fund

1st June 2016

Enterprise Ireland today (Wednesday 1 June) announced the allocation of €2m in funding for local and regional initiatives to support new businesses and jobs across the country under the LEO Competitive Fund. An additional €3m was awarded through the Community Enterprise Initiative.

This funding is the beginning of a new approach to supporting job creation initiatives at local and regional level in support of the Regional Acton Plans for Jobs. In line with the commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government to create jobs in every region of the country, this €2m allocation will support ‘bottom up’ projects where the Local Enterprise Offices will group together to create collaborative projects in their region

Welcoming the funding allocation, Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, said:

“Every parish, county and region knows it has particular strengths that can create jobs. The Government is committed to supporting that effort. In my first few weeks as Minister, I am impressed by the commitment of everyone involved in the Regional Action Plans for Jobs. Local and regional organisations, public and private, have committed to work together in the drive for jobs and to create the opportunities for people to live and work in their local communities. I am determined to support these regions to help them to achieve their potential and their ambition. In that regard, I am particularly pleased that Enterprise Ireland will issue a 2nd call later this year and work with interested groups to deliver quality projects in their regions.”

Funded Projects involving Local Enterprise Offices in the North East/North West are detailed below:

LEO Donegal, LEO Sligo, LEO Leitrim, LEO Cavan, LEO Monaghan, LEO Louth
ACCELINVEST will create a clear pathway for export focused, investment-ready regional companies to progress from the LEO Network to Enterprise Ireland.

LEO Sligo, LEO Donegal
The programme is aimed at two particular cohorts of businesses, i.e. existing LEO clients and artisan producers trading in farmers’ markets and other similar early stage niches.The main objectives of the programme will be to increase the business potential and expertise of promoters, to foster innovation and know-how, increase turnover and sales and to equip participants to trade in new markets.

LEO Leitrim, LEO Cavan, LEO Longford, LEO Roscommon
The Graduate Internship for Entrepreneurship Programme. Through this programme, graduates will be connected with full-time, paid internship centred on a two way skills transfer – graduates will transfer new skills and approaches, employers will transfer entrepreneurial learning and experience of running/managing a business.

LEO Leitrim, LEO Cavan, LEO Longford, LEO Roscommon
This initiative will provide the opportunity for shared learning, dynamic trade development and knowledge transfer in the creative sector which will result in job creation and greater sustainability of the often challenged creative sector with a specific emphasis on the craft sector.