Minister Martin Announces €6.74m Investment in 22 Community Enterprise Centres throughout Ireland

“Community Enterprise Centres provide essential support for entrepreneurship in urban and rural areas”- Martin

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr Micheál Martin T.D today (Monday 19 November 2007) announced a €6.74m investment in 22 Community Enterprise Centre projects under the first round of Enterprise Ireland’s €21m Community Enterprise Scheme 2007-2009. This investment will lead to the creation of 10 new community enterprise centres and the expansion of 12 existing centres.

Making the announcement the Minister said:

“Community Enterprise Centres are a truly unique partnership between local communities and Enterprise Ireland and provide essential support for entrepreneurship in urban and rural areas. In April 2007 I announced the provision of €21m for investment under a new Community Enterprise Centre scheme for the period 2007-2009, to be managed by Enterprise Ireland.”

“I am delighted to announce a €6.74m investment in 22 Community Enterprise Centre projects under the first round of the new scheme, just eight months later. I would like to sincerely congratulate the 22 successful applicants who represent community groups from Inishowen to Farranfore”

“Community enterprise centres have a real and measurable impact on the economic and social development of local communities, not least through employment creation. Findings from a survey conducted by Enterprise Ireland report that in 2007, the 105 completed community enterprise centres in Ireland supported almost 1,000 enterprises that in turn employ 4,850 people” the Minister concluded.

The €6.74m total investment is comprised of a €6.37m capital investment for the construction of new community enterprise centres and the extension of existing centre facilities, and a further €370,000 in support for the employment of enterprise centre managers. The investment will bring the number of Enterprise Ireland supported Community Enterprise Centres throughout the country to 134. A total €50.8m has been approved for the development of Community Enterprise Centres since 1989.

The Successful CEC projects under the first round of the 2007-2009 Community Enterprise scheme are as follows:

+ Company to be formed/registered

**these communities will share the management grant

For further information, please contact:

Jerry O’Connor, Press Advisor, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment,

06312200

Sarah O’Callaghan, Press Office, Enterprise Ireland, 01 808 2000

Notes to Editors:

Today’s announcement will bring to 134 the number of Community Enterprise Centres in Ireland.

• 105 centres are up and running
• 19 under construction and
• 10 new centres are announced today.

A total €50.8m has been invested in Community Enterprise Centres since 1989.

The 2007-2009 Community Enterprise Centre Scheme is a competitive scheme managed by Enterprise Ireland. Enterprise Ireland can provide up to 50% funding of eligible expenditure for new centres in the BMW region and up to 45% in the South and East Region. Communities must commit to raising the remainder of the funding working in co-operation with local development agencies and other community organisations. There will be at least two further rounds of the scheme (ie. calls for proposals) over the lifetime of the 2007-2009 scheme.

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