Address By Mr. Noel Treacy TD Minister for Science Technology and Commerce at the Presentation of Winners of the 4th Roscommon County Enterprise Board Awards at Gleeson's Restaurant, Main Street, Roscommon Friday, 26th October at 4pm

I am delighted to be here today to present the awards to the winners of the Fourth County Enterprise Awards competition sponsored by Roscommon County Enterprise Board.

Roscommon County Enterprise Board was established in 1993 to develop and support micro-enterprise and to stimulate economic activity at local level. The Enterprise Board is committed to the economic development of this county and since its inception has created 494 full-time and 145 part-time jobs. To date the Enterprise Board have made an investment of £3.8 million in the development of micro-enterprises throughout County Roscommon.

The Enterprise Board was first funded under the Operational Programme for Local, Urban and Rural Development 1994-1999 and is currently funded under the BMW Regional Operational Programme for Micro-Enterprise.

The Enterprise Board provide two main services:

1.Selective Financial Intervention

Firstly, under the Selective Financial Intervention, measure the Enterprise Board provides a range of financial supports to eligible start-up and existing businesses by way of grants, refundable grant-aid and equity through preference and ordinary shares.

2.Entrepreneurial and Capability Development

Secondly, under the Entrepreneurial and Capability Development, measure the Enterprise Board provides a wide range of non-financial or ‘soft’ supports to small and medium sized businesses. While financial support is vital to the establishment and development of small business the provision of advice, management, and business development training programmes which have been specifically designed for small businesses is the key to their accelerated growth and consolidation.

Under the heading of ‘soft supports’, training programmes currently been run by Roscommon CEB during this autumn include computer training, Euro-Information, Safety Workshops and ISO Update.

Other initiatives that Roscommon CEB are involved in include: assisting the creation of enterprise at secondary school level through the Young Entrepreneurs Scheme.

A team from Roscommon CBS - called ‘Gemmi Lockers’ - took second place in the Intermediate category of the National Final of YES last year. Four schools in the county of Roscommon will be participating in this year’s competition.

Roscommon County Enterprise Board has also administered the E-Commerce Fast-Track Initiative, which is in operation to the end of 2001, at local level. This initiative provides SME’s with technical assistance grants, website training, mentoring and networking to promote their business through e-business.

The annual County Enterprise Awards Scheme is also sponsored by the County Enterprise Boards. It is an excellent opportunity for micro-enterprises to get recognition for their achievements.

This competition is open to all enterprises, which have received financial support or 'soft' support (e.g. business training) from Roscommon County Enterprise Board, who have been trading since January 1996 and employ a maximum of 10 full-time persons at 31^st December 2000.

The Overall Winner and the winner of the High Tech Sector prize will represent County Roscommon in the National Enterprise Awards on November 22^nd next. The National overall winner will go forward to the World Business Achiever Awards.

The 6 finalists here today are good examples of the type and diversity of projects that the County Enterprise Board fund. The six finalists are: -

CORA SYSTEMS LTD. established by Philip and Ann Marie Martin - is an innovative software systems design company based in Carrick-On-Shannon, Co. Roscommon.

SAOIRSE SADDLERY established in 1999 by Alan Ward is providing top quality hand made saddlery and related products.

IRISH IMAGERY, was established by David Knight in 2000 when a feasibility study was undertaken by the promoters to assess the viability of an image-reproducing enterprise.

MIDLANDPRECISION TOOL & DIE LTD., located here in Roscommon town, was established in 1999, and is represented here today by George and John McCourt. The company designs and manufactures tooling for the thermo-forming and vacuum-forming industry.

MINATURA (IRELAND) LTD was set up by Owen Caulfield in August, 2000. Owen is a carpenter by trade. His interest in model making and miniature furniture prompted him to explore the possibility of turning his hobby into a business.

STORNET LTD. based at Ballinlough Enterprise Centre was established in 1999 by Kevin Sweeney and Patricia Egan.

I would like to wish the Overall and High Tech winners the best of luck in the National Final next month. I have no doubt that you will do Roscommon proud. All of you are contributing significantly to the creation of employment in the County and I wish you continued success in your businesses. I have no doubt that Roscommon County Enterprise and their staff will support you through that process for the years ahead.

I would like now to formally present the various Winners and the Runner-Ups with their certificates as well as the remaining Finalists with a token of their personal achievements.