The Mayor of Donegal, Councillor Gerry McMonagle, has said he believes ambitious plans by Local Enterprise Office Donegal to help create 400 new jobs in the county between now and 2020, will receive widespread backing from the council.
His comments came yesterday when the Cathaoirleach formally launched the Local Enterprise Office Development Plan 2017-2020 in the Public Services Centre in Letterkenny.
“As Cathaoirleach of the council I’m sure my fellow councillors will agree it is important for Donegal to have a strong and sustainable economy with a focus on employment creation and on accessing external markets.
I am therefore in no doubt that all council members will be only too glad to fully support the Local Enterprise Office as it seeks to execute the aims and aspirations of the plan over the coming years.”
At Tuesday’s launch, Head of Enterprise in Donegal, Michael Tunney said that the vision in the plan is to make Donegal an attractive and competitive location for setting up and doing business, thereby creating a sustainable economy with a strong focus on employment and international markets.
“To achieve this vision, the mission for the Local Enterprise Office is to provide high quality supports and services that promotes entrepreneurship, fosters start-ups and drives the development of businesses and our local economy,” he said.
The Head of Enterprise went on to describe the actions, targets, outcomes and outputs of the plan as “ambitious yet achievable.”
“The Local Enterprise Office working in particular with local businesses and stakeholders can achieve many, if not all of these, but that will only enable us move a small way towards achieving the vision.”
He pointed to the need for ‘collective engagement’ as: “a vital ingredient in making the delivery of the aims and objectives of the plan a reality.”
Meanwhile, describing the plan as ‘forward-thinking’ Donegal County Council’s Chief Executive, Seamus Neely, said it demonstrates the increasingly important role the Local Enterprise Office will play in the direction and delivery of economic development in the county.
“The plan looks ahead towards potential challenges, and by doing so affords the Local Enterprise Office the opportunity to formulate strategies to assist local businesses in the county address these challenges.”
However he added that more importantly, the plan identifies opportunities for Donegal.
“It not only pinpoints key areas for enterprise opportunity, but also outlines that cross-agency co-operation is the key towards driving enterprise creation in these sectors.
The co-operation and support of the other enterprise agencies and the integrated support of the wider Donegal County Council, will play a vital role in helping it foster and develop the spirit of entrepreneurship that is the backbone of the economy in the county,” he said.
Tuesday’s launch had also heard from successful local business Kinnegar Brewing, with Rick LeVert in attendance to tell the Kinnegar story and how they availed of a range of Local Enterprise Office supports and services as the business grew and developed.
The Mayor described the Kinnegar success story as just one example of how help from the Local Enterprise Office can help business grow and proper in the county.
“Judging on it’s track record of excellence I have no doubt that the Local Enterprise Office will continue to work with local businesses, key stakeholders and enterprise support organisations to make Donegal an attractive and competitive location for setting up and doing business,” he concluded.
To find out more about the range of supports and services on offer to small businesses at the Local Enterprise Office log on to the website localenterprise.ie/Donegal or contact the office on 0749160735
Local Enterprise Office Donegal is supported through co-funding from the Irish Government and the European Regional Development Fund 2014 – 2020.
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