A new Regional Enterprise Development Fund of up to €60m has been launched by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor and Minister of State for Employment and Small Business, Pat Breen today.
The Fund is aimed at accelerating economic recovery in every part of the country by delivering on the potential of local and regional enterprise strengths. The Fund aims to support significant collaborative regional initiatives to build on specific industry sectoral strengths and improve enterprise capability, thereby driving job creation.
It has been provided by the Department of Jobs, through Enterprise Ireland and is a key action to support the Regional Action Plan for Jobs and the Action Plan for Rural Development.
Enterprise Ireland is now seeking applications for funding under four streams with varying investment levels:
1. Major Change Projects - €2m up to €5m per project
2. Regionally Significant Projects - €250,000 up to €2m per project
3. Local & Community Enterprise Development Projects - €50,000 up to €250,000 per project
4. Industry Clusters- €50,000 up to €250,000 per project
Launching the Fund, Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor said, "The Regional Action Plans aim to ensure that regional Ireland gets its fair share of economic growth and investment. I want to seecollaborative projects that will boost the regions by supporting enterprise and creating jobs. Through this fund, I am delighted to be backing local stakeholders to drive their own futures by putting forward their own innovative proposals to deliver sustainable employment."
Source: www.businessworld.ie
