Mayo Intercultural Action has secured further funding to continue its GROW: Women In Business Programme. The GROW programme - Growing Real Opportunities for Women is an EU funded programme run by Mayo Intercultural Action, providing supports for women to set up their own businesses. Over the past two years, women from throughout Mayo have availed of training, mentoring, and advice to support them to develop successful enterprises. Following on the success of this innovative programme to date, MIA has been allocated a further €33,152 to continue the programme until November 2012 and recruitment will now begin for this new phase of GROW.
GROW programme co-ordinator, Thérèse Ruane, stated:
“Over the past two years, our work with women participating on the GROW programme has proved hugely successful in supporting women setting up businesses here in Mayo. Many new businesses are now up and running and span a broad range of areas and sectors such as: IT and internet businesses; tourism ventures; hairdressing; craft sector; agri-food businesses; retail shops; clothes and alterations businesses; health and life coaching; health-care industry, etc. Others on the programme are well on their way to establishing their enterprise and growing their business idea. It's small and medium enterprises like these that will put Ireland and Mayo back on its feet again and that will provide much needed sustainable employment into the future. Every effort and support must be in place to foster female entrepreneurship and it is programmes like GROW that is making a real difference.
“Women's contribution to the economy and female entrepreneurship is often overlooked. Women who participated on this programme are highly motivated, talented, creative, people with a wealth of knowledge, ideas, and experience and have so much to offer to get the economy going again here in Mayo.
“The continued support from Mayo County Enterprise Board, GMIT Innovation Centre, South West Mayo Development Co, Mayo North East Leader Partnership Co, Le Chéile Family Resource Centre for this programme is really appreciated and we look forward to working with them for the next phase of GROW.”
Information evenings will be held throughout June. Contact Thérèse Ruane at 086 3483414 or [email protected].
