“Fingal County Enterprise board will receive extra funding for job creation over the coming months”, according Fine Gael TD for Dublin North Alan Farrell, commenting on the announcement by Minister for Small Business John Perry TD today (Wednesday) that a further €3.1 million will be allocated to City and County Enterprise Boards for direct investment in job creation, as a result of savings in his department this year.
“This is great news for the Fingal County Enterprise Board who will be in receipt of an extra €175,000 this year, which in turn will create up to 18 jobs in Dublin North.
“Having previously served as both director and a member of the Fingal County Enterprise Board, I find it very encouraging that there is sufficient demand from projects in Dublin North to justify these requests, and this shows that the start-up spirit is alive and well in the area. The provision of this additional funding to support businesses is further evidence of the Government’s commitment to the small business sector.
“If we are to get out of this crisis, it is crucial that we strive in every way possible to encourage the start-up and expanding businesses that will create the jobs of the future. The County and City Enterprise Boards around the country have a key role to play in providing much-needed capital for these businesses.”
The role of the County and City Enterprise Boards (CEBs) is to provide a source of support for micro-enterprise in the start-up and expansion phases, to promote and develop indigenous micro-enterprise potential and to stimulate economic activity and entrepreneurship at local level.
Subject to certain eligibility criteria, the Board supports individuals, firms and community groups provided that the proposed projects have the capacity to achieve commercial viability. The forms of financial assistance which are available, subject to certain eligibility criteria, include Priming Grants, Expansion/ Development Grants and Feasibility/ Innovation Study Grants. The provision of non-financial assistance can take the form of a wide range of business advice such as Programmes covering Business Management, Mentoring, E-commerce, Enterprise Education, and Women in Business networks.
Each CEB has examined its local demand and has assessed projects that it is already aware of and which are sufficiently advanced to complete their business arrangements in 2011 in order to draw down the grant aid provided before year end.