By Business & Finance 
Enterprise Ireland has today announced the allocation of €5m in funding for local and regional initiatives to support new businesses and jobs across the country.
This funding, under the Local Enterprise Offices Competitive Fund and the Community Enterprise Initiative, 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 a commitment to create jobs in every region of the country, this €5m allocation will support projects where the LEOs will group together to create collaborative projects in their region (€2m), and where community organisations will partner with other regional organisations to deliver new job creation projects (€3m).
Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, said: “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.”
She continued: “In that regard, I am particularly pleased that Enterprise Ireland will issue a second call later this year and work with interested groups to deliver quality projects in their regions.”
Enterprise Ireland CEO Julie Sinnamon commented: “Job creation is alive and well in the regions and Enterprise Ireland is committed to supporting that effort. The first competitive call for funding was very well subscribed and we look forward to working with those allocated funding today and with all the other organisations that have come forward with projects to boost job creation potential across the country.”
