In contrast to what might be expected during times of recession it seems that it is “not all doom and gloom” out there for small enterprises in Mayo. This was according to Frank Fullard, director of the Mayo County Enterprise Board, who addressed members of the Planning and Economic Development SPC this week.
Speaking at Monday’s meeting Mr Fullard said that last year more than €440,000 was spent by the County Enterprise Board which helped 24 programmes develop and in turn created 66 jobs in the region, and added that there has not been a fall off in the number of smaller businesses expressing an interest in starting-up.
Since its establishment in 1993/1994, the Mayo County Enterprise Board has granted over €7 million in aid to 594 businesses, creating 1,300 jobs, with a typical profile of the board’s clients as being small scale projects employing up to 10 people, many of which are just one or two person operations.
Apart from grants, the enterprise board offers self support and training and encourages new businesses to develop new products and markets, particularly through developing e-commerce where people can buy and sell online.
School enterprises have also been targeted by the board with more than €50,000 spent last year in schools in order to encourage young entrepreneurship.
Mr Fullard said: “By nature Ireland is a a very entrepreneurial country” and commented that the trend of starting new businesses in the county seems to be continuing.
