154 jobs created by LEO supported Longford businesses

Local Enterprise Offices, which are supported by the Government, helped create 154 jobs in Longford during 2023.
Commenting on the figures, Senator Micheál Carrigy said: “Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) play a hugely important role in supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs right across the country, providing expert advice, mentorship, as well as financial supports.
“In 2023, 268 companies in Longford came to our LEO for help and 154 new jobs were created as a result.
“From supporting businesses to move online through the Trading Online Voucher Scheme, to helping businesses ‘go green’ with the Green for Business Scheme and the new Energy Efficiency Grant, LEO support can make a huge difference to our small businesses.
“Across Ireland, the LEO network supported over 38,700 jobs from over 7,000 businesses in 2023 alone. Nationwide, a total of 6,640 jobs were created with the support of LEOs in 2023.
“2023 brought many challenges for businesses, from rising costs to accessing staff, but that LEOs saw a 10th consecutive year of job growth shows just how vital their supports are to small businesses.

“Established in 2014 by the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, the 31 Local Enterprise Offices nationwide are operated in a partnership between Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities

“Devised as a “first stop shop” for those looking to start a business or for small businesses looking for support, the Local Enterprise Offices are now a significant source of job creation and a hub of entrepreneurship across the country.”

Senator Carrigy concluded, “Fine Gael is always proud to back business and our LEOs; in Budget 2024, an additional €9 million in funding was secured to ensure that LEOs can continue to support our entrepreneurs across Longford.”