Cork county council helps create 240 start-up jobs
During this period 92 business projects were approved for financial assistance totalling €1.62 million.
The number of people in the region now employed by LEO-assisted companies stands at 1,094.
The local authority’s head of Economic Development Fund (EDF), Louis Duffy, said the EDF alone had provided grant assistance for 31 start-up companies over the past three years and the council has acted as loan guarantor for another two companies.
Since 2011 the council has ringfenced 1% of the rates it collected for the EDF. Cork County Council is the only local authority in Ireland to support fledgling businesses in such a manner.
The report also states that the local authority has provided 265 fully serviced industrial sites around the county — 34 of which are now available for occupation.
The council has also embarked on building specialised food-producing units. Units totalling 19,000 sq ft are operational in Bandon and Carrigaline.
In addition two-fully equipped enterprise kitchens of 2,000 sq ft have been developed in Carrigaline which when opened will provide start-up food businesses with flexible and affordable options. The council will charge by the hour for the use of the units when they open in autumn.
Funding totalling €650,000 has also been given for the development of Community Enterprise Centres in Mitchelstown and Dunmanway.
This initiative will provide an additional 35,000 sq ft of space for industry, offices and food businesses.
Cork County Council has also helped promote marketing food businesses in partnership with the LEOs. It took small companies to the Food Expo in Birmingham and the IFE in London.
The report says to date the value of businesses gained by the companies from these trips has exceeded €1 million.
The local authority is also actively supporting tourism businesses. It has provided financial supports for the recent Lusitania commemoration as well as the Cork Harbour Festival and the Sovereign Cup sailing event for Kinsale.
