Donegal Local Enterprise Office’s Food Coast project was among 16 projects named by Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys, when she announced the results of the new €2.5 million Local Enterprise Office (LEO) Competitive Fund.
Applications were open to individual LEOs; collaborative projects
between two or more LEOs; and LEOs working with other local groups like
Chambers, Community Enterprise Centres, Education or Training bodies,
Local Authorities or colleges.
Head of Enterprise in Donegal, Michael Tunney, said he was delighted
with the announcement and said the funding of €230,375 would help the
Food Coast initiative continue to build on the momentum it has gathered
over the years.
The Food Coast project – a partnership between the public and private
sectors has been working to make Donegal famous for food for some years
now – having first launched the strategy in 2012.
This specific project with funding of over €230,000, will see funding for a facilitated food cluster, a productivity programme, a best practice visit and an
executive food marketing programme, project marketing and funding for a
full-time executive for two years.
Applications were open to individual LEOs; collaborative projects
between two or more LEOs; and LEOs working with other local groups like
Chambers, local businesses, Community Enterprise Centres, Education or
Training bodies, Local Authorities or colleges.
“We are delighted with this approval. We have great commitment from the
food sector to the overall Food Coast project as evidenced most recently
by the 20 different Food Coast events that were put on by the businesses
as part of Donegal Connect. Over the past two years we are seeing the
awareness of Donegal as a food county coming to the fore, both within
the county and at national level,” the Head of Enterprise in Donegal
said.
Mr. Tunney explained that this is the first time Local Enterprise
Office, Donegal, has received any funding for the delivery of the Food
Coast other than that allocated from the limited budget of the Local
Enterprise Office.
“This funding will allow us drive the project forward with renewed
energy. It is very timely and will give added momentum to the overall
initiative,” he said.
Those comments were echoed by Chief Executive of Donegal, County
Council, Seamus Neely who said the announcement was a great outcome for
the Food Coast project which has been pioneered by the Local Enterprise
Office and the food businesses for over seven years.
“Food and food tourism are real strengths in our County and we are now
an exemplar location for the quality of our products, the diversity of
our food experiences and for the reputation of our chefs,” the Chief
Executive of Donegal County Council said.
Announcing the successful applicants at a special event in the Council
Chamber of Monaghan County Council, Minister Humphreys said the
successful applicants demonstrated a real intent to collaborate, not
only with neighbouring County LEOs but also with other stakeholders such
as ITs, Innovation Centres, Local Authorities and others.
The successful applications were selected through a rigorous evaluation
process based on criteria, which included economic impacts and value for
money, collaboration and participation, Future Jobs orientation,
collaboration and building regional strengths and viability and
sustainability.
Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single
Market and Data Protection Pat Breen TD said: “I very much welcome
Minister Humphreys’ announcement and want to commend all those who have
participated in the competitive process. These successful projects will
be rolled out through the Local Enterprise Offices, which are very
well-placed to reach companies and entrepreneurs in even the most rural
areas. I particularly welcome the focus on collaboration and networking
in support of regional and local micro-enterprise capability building,
growth and job creation.
Mark Christal, Manager, Regions and Entrepreneurship, Enterprise
Ireland, said; “This is a significant investment by the Minister and her
Department in the ideas and ability of the Local Enterprise Offices to
deliver results across the country. This will hugely benefit companies
and the enterprise eco-system in all regions, an investment that will
help to drive enterprise and support the business objectives of
entrepreneurs and small businesses. It shows that Local Enterprise
Offices across the country are committed to improving the business
environment and supports for their client companies and the
entrepreneurs of the future and Enterprise Ireland will continue to work
with them to support this aim.”
Oisin Geoghegan, Chair of the network of Local Enterprise Offices,
described the announcement by Minister Humphreys as a great boost to
Local Enterprise Offices across the country.
“They have shown their creativity and innovation in proposing a range of
projects that will solve a number of issues in their regions. This
funding highlights the impact that Local Enterprise Offices are making
and shows that they continue to be best placed in driving innovation and
enterprise in towns and villages across the country,” he said.
