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Economic Development

By Waterford City & County Council

CLOSING THIS WEEK : Shop Front Improvement Scheme 2022

Waterford Council has now opened applications for the 2022 Shop Front Improvement Scheme to support city and town centre businesses in improving their shop front aesthetic. As part of this scheme Waterford will cover 50% of the costs for successful candidates for shop front refurbishment up to a maximum of €1,000 or €2,000 depending on the works. This scheme covers businesses in Waterford City centre, Dungarvan town centre and Tramore town centre.

* APPLY HERE *

The scheme is now open and will take applications until the 3rd of March 2022, 5pm for works to be completed by the 31st of August 2022. 

By Waterford City & County Council

Waterford Businesses encouraged to take advantage of Local Enterprise Week

Businesses across Waterford are being encouraged to take advantage of the array of events and topics at this year’s Local Enterprise Week.  The initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices takes place from the 7th to 11th March with over 220 events for businesses and entrepreneurs taking place in person and online across the country and 26 in Waterford city and county.

The theme of this year’s Week is “Making It Happen” and is focused on helping businesses to look forward and to future proof themselves for the years ahead.  The full listings for the week in Waterford can be found on www.localenterprise.ie/Waterford/Enterprise-Development/Local-Enterprise-Week

There is a wide variety of topics and events in this year’s listing. Kicking off the week in Waterford on Monday March 7th is a HR Advice Clinic. If you have Human Resources issues or concerns, LEO Waterford is providing one-to-one HR Advice Clinics for small or micro business in Waterford city and county.

Also on the Monday afternoon is a Trading Online information session. The Trading Online Voucher Scheme offers small businesses, trading over 6 months, the opportunity to create or develop an e-commerce project by availing of vouchers of up to €2,500 or 50% of eligible expenditure.

Those wishing to avail of a voucher, must attend our Information Seminar, where attendees will be informed of the purpose of the scheme and how best to use and get value from the application of the voucher.

While on Tuesday March 8th Waterford is hosting a fascinating event, Thinking Around Corners, Creativity & Creating Opportunities from Problems.

This is a series of five webinars, though each webinar can be booked as a stand-alone workshop. Each workshop has been designed to allow participants to check out a range of different and exciting ways of assessing and dealing with problems and discovering and creating opportunities for future success.

Other events taking place throughout Local Enterprise Week in Waterford include one of the national Spotlighted events, The Social Media Mashup, not to mention the County final for the national enterprise awards, the county final for the student enterprise programme, a business after hours with Waterford Chamber, Roadmap to Funding & Supports for Innovative Business Ideas, and a one-to-one financial advice clinic.

Local Enterprise Week is the perfect opportunity for many businesses to dip into a specific area of interest and gather information on a topic that may be relevant to their business now or in the future.  It also provides the perfect opportunity for someone who may be interested in starting a business to get an idea of some of the key areas of focus and how to take those first steps.

To register for Local Enterprise Week events taking place in Waterford city and county from March 2nd to 6th, or to find out more about what business support services are available visit www.localenterprise.ie/Waterford/

Most events are online and completely free of charge while some have a nominal booking fee.  As with every year, many of the events are expected to book up quickly so early booking is strongly advised.

-ENDS-

By Waterford City & County Council

Shop Front Improvement Scheme 2022

Waterford Council has now opened applications for the 2022 Shop Front Improvement Scheme to support city and town centre businesses in improving their shop front aesthetic. As part of this scheme Waterford will cover 50% of the costs for successful candidates for shop front refurbishment up to a maximum of €1,000 or €2,000 depending on the works. This scheme covers businesses in Waterford City centre, Dungarvan town centre and Tramore town centre.

* APPLY HERE *

The scheme is now open and will take applications until the 3rd of March 2022, 5pm for works to be completed by the 31st of August 2022. 

By Waterford City & County Council

Local Enterprise Office Waterford announces programme for Local Enterprise Week 2022

Local Enterprise Office Waterford announces programme for Local Enterprise Week 2022

Waterford Local Enterprise Office has announced a programme of 26 events during Local Enterprise Week 2022, taking place for Waterford City and County businesses from March 7th to March 11th.

This year’s Local Enterprise Week will feature a host of informative and engaging workshops, seminars, presentations and advice clinics aimed at local businesses, whether in pre-start, start-up or as an established business looking to grow.

You can learn how to create digital opportunities for business, talk to financial and HR experts, see future trends for food exporting, get advice for selling online or even learn how to think around corners.

A key event in this jam-packed programme is the ‘Social Media Mash-Up’, taking place on Thursday March 10th from 2p to 4pm. Titled ‘Future opportunities for your business’ this two hour event hosted by Teresanne O’Reilly features Twitter expert, Author, International speaker Samantha Kelly; one of the world’s youngest serial entrepreneurs, a BAFTA nominated 20 year old and self-taught programmer Jordan Casey; the creator of Waterford Whispers News Colm Williamson and founder of Waterford in your pocket Paul Dower.

Kicking off the week in Waterford at 11am on Monday March 7th is a vital event for all current and future entrepreneurs, ‘Roadmap to funding and supports for innovative business ideas’. This one-hour session takes those attending through the financial and alternative supports available to those wish to take their idea or their business to the next level.

Later on Monday, at 4.30pm Waterford LEO is hosting a complementary session on how best to obtain and utilise a trading online voucher.

Given Waterford’s rich culinary traditions and sparkling successes over the past number of years it Is not surprising that food takes up a big part of the week. Anyone in food production shouldn’t miss the ‘Food exporting event’ on Thursday March 10th from 12 noon to 2pm.

Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Waterford Richie Walsh said, “This year’s Local Enterprise Week programme has something for everyone, whatever phase your business is in, or whatever sector your business is in.  The range of events and the calibre of speakers and facilitators have been specifically chosen by the team here in Waterford to address, with practical insight, what is required in achieving your business goals.”

“Waterford Local Enterprise Office is delighted to work in conjunction with various key business support organisations and state agencies, including Enterprise Ireland and Waterford Chamber of Commerce to provide a programme that ultimately gives start-ups and small businesses opportunities, advice and resources to unleash their potential and help them on the path to growth.”

Other events taking place throughout Local Enterprise Week include the County final for the national enterprise awards, the county final for the student enterprise programme, a business after hours with Waterford Chamber, Thinking Around Corners: Creativity and Creating Opportunities from Problems, and a one-to-one HR advice clinic.

To register for Local Enterprise Week events taking place in Waterford city and county from March 2nd to 6th, or to find out more about what business support services are available visit www.localenterprise.ie/Waterford/

Most events are online and completely free of charge while some have a nominal booking fee.  As with every year, many of the events are expected to book up quickly so early booking is strongly advised.

By Waterford City & County Council

Cappoquin Regeneration Public Meeting

Some two years back, Waterford City and County Council, working in collaboration with Waterford Leader Partnership, Cappoquin Regeneration Company, Tomar Trust and the local community, was successful in being allocated some €1.2 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF).

This funding was further bolstered by match funding provided by the Council and by Tomar Trust. This was designated as Category 2 funding i.e. funding to facilitate the design, planning and preparation of regeneration projects.

The emphasis on this phase of development was very much to identify and prepare projects which would address five main issues:

·         Vacancy and dereliction in the town centre

·         Lack of recent investment in the town centre’s public domain

·         Lack of appropriate enterprise and housing opportunities

·         The potential in improving access to the River Blackwater

·         The lack of community and tourist-oriented recreational infrastructure

In the meantime, Waterford City and County Council, working closely with Cappoquin Regeneration Company has acquired a number of derelict and vacant properties, has procured architectural designs for same and has advanced them to a point of planning permission.

Likewise, there is design work on-going, again much with appropriate planning in place, to improve the physical appearance and attractiveness of the town centre, access to the river, the creation of a number of new recreational trails as well as the development of an innovative town centre housing pilot. The collaborative approach currently being taken in Cappoquin is cited in the government’s new “Town Centre First” policy which was unveiled last week.

Side by side with this are other ongoing initiatives in the town e.g. the development of Blackwater House as a new enterprise centre, a Town and Village Renewal Scheme which provided €120,000 for improvements to some 45 properties on Main Street and the work of Waterford Sports Partnership in the onward development of the West Waterford rural Sports Hub centred around Cappoquin.

Waterford City and County Council is now in a position to advance an application for the next round of RRDF funding which will take a number of projects from design through to construction and delivery.

To this effect, the Council is hosting a Public Consultation in Cappoquin Community Centre on the evening of Tuesday, 22nd February from 7.00 – 9.00 p.m. to which all the community and any interested parties are invited.

The purpose of the meeting will be to inform the attendees of progress to date, to outline the plans for further development and to get the community’s view as to the proposed projects and to discuss other potential developments which can aid in Cappoquin’s regeneration drive.

Cappoquin is a town with a great sense of heritage and past endeavour but is now time to also look forward and to ensure future vibrancy, sustainability and growth for this gorgeous town. It behoves everybody in the community to contribute to that future, to have their voices heard and to work together for the greater common good of Cappoquin and surrounding areas. 

-ENDS-

By Waterford City & County Council

Showcase beckons for Waterford craft and design companies

Waterford’s craft and design industry will have strong representation at this year’s Showcase Creative Expo, which takes place from February 27th to March 2nd in The RDS in Dublin.

Showcase, Ireland’s Creative Expo is now the foremost place for retailers to discover unique, design-led fashion and knitwear, jewellery, craft, gift and interiors. It offers the chance to explore the best of Ireland’s creativity from over 450 exhibitors including leading Irish designers and manufacturers and the very best emerging home-grown creative talent.

Four craft and design companies will be showcasing the very best of Waterford creativity, design and innovation, with the assistance of Local Enterprise Office Waterford.

The city and county-based enterprises attending are Mad Jessie’s hand drawn, colourful and unique clothing; Frances O’Reilly’s Dry Dog, super absorbent canine coats; Polly and Andy’s comfy clothing made from biodegradable bamboo; and Susan Furniss Radley’s Dust and Rock freedom giving Original Wrist Pockets. They have all been working closely with LEO Waterford in order to prepare them for one of Ireland’s largest craft exhibitions.

Running for over forty years, Showcase has an impressive track record in attracting Ireland’s most talented makers and designers, along with buyers from over twenty countries. This year’s Expo is a great platform for these Waterford designers to introduce their original products to national and international buyers.

Marie Jeanne Jacob of Mad Jessie, said that the exhibition is real opportunity for any artist or designer to take their creations to the next level, “I just can’t wait to be back at an event where I can talk with people face-to-face, so I’m very excited about this. I also spent the last few years creating connections online with businesses, artists and makers, and I am very much looking forward to meeting these people for the first time. I hope attendees get to see the huge amount of work that goes into every design, and how important sustainability, collaboration and community are to me and my brand.”

“It’s a thrill to be asked to attend this event and the team here is really looking forward to meeting new customers and picking the brains of like-minded creators.”

“After the past couple of years, we all feel this is an opportunity to make the most of the country opening up again and it will be amazing to simply interact with people and ‘talk shop’ again.  I definitely feel that we can take full advantage of the support we’ve received from LEO Waterford at Showcase 2022.”

Polly Doyle of Polly and Andy is looking forward to returning to Showcase, “I’m really excited to be back at Showcase. So much has changed since Showcase 2020 and I cannot wait to meet the buyers and other exhibitors face to face again.”

While Susan Furniss of Original Wrist Pockets aims to make the most of the opportunity, “Having spent the last two years concentrating on growing our online presence, Showcase is an ideal opportunity to venture outside of our online platform, to meet buyers the buyers and shops at the heart of our communities.

As Ireland reopens there is an appetite amongst consumers for a bricks-and-mortar store experience and we are delighted to be part of this journey at Showcase.”

Introducing a new product such as The Original Wrist Pocket to an online audience has had its challenges. It is a product that people want to feel and try on. Showcase offers the opportunity to see our product on shelves in stores, where people can be introduced to The Original Wrist Pocket in a setting that is familiar to them.”

Working in partnership with the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland, the 31 Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) around the country have set up a dedicated area within Showcase – the Local Enterprise Showcase – enabling up to 100 designers, manufacturers and craftspeople to sell directly to international buyers.

Brid Kirby of LEO Waterford said that Showcase is an invaluable chance for any craft-maker or designer to get an audience with potential customers.

“These four Waterford craft and design enterprises have shown creativity and ambition with their products and will certainly be amongst the most talented craft and design artists at this year’s Showcase.”

“Many have availed of training and mentoring in preparation for this opportunity, while others received financial support in order to help them appear at Showcase. They have perfected their pitch and been given the tools, advice and insights to take full advantage of this fantastic prospect.”

“We at the LEO also hope this inspires other artists and crafts people to take the leap and commercialise their creations. We are always available to assist start-ups in any way we can.”

If your business in pre-start, start-up or established business phase and would like to find out more about what business support services are available from LEO Waterford visit www.localenterprise.ie/Waterford or call to LEO Waterford offices at 35, The Mall, Waterford or the Civic Offices in Dungarvan.

By Waterford City & County Council

Notice of Rate having been made for the year ending 31st December 2022

Notice is hereby given that the City and County Rate has been duly made on the rateable properties in Waterford City and County.

The Annual Rate on Valuation for the Ordinary Expenditure for Waterford City and County Council for services for the year ending 31st December 2022 is €0.2780.

The Rate Book is now in my custody and may be inspected by any person affected thereby at the Offices of Waterford City and County Council, Customer Care Office, Baileys New Street, Waterford and in the Customer Care Office, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford between the hours of 9.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. by appointment only. The said rates will be payable from and after the publication of this notice.

Under Section 7(1) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act 1978, any person who is aggrieved at the failure of a rating authority to make them an allowance under the Act or who believes that they are entitled to a different allowance to that made, may within two months of the date of the making of the rate, request the rating authority in writing to grant the appropriate allowance. In case the request is not complied with within 28 days the person may, within four months of the date of the making of the rate, apply to the District Court to have the appropriate allowance made.

The above rate was made on the 27th of January 2022. Any request in respect of an allowance under Section 7(1) of the Local Government (Financial Provisions) Act 1978, must therefore be made to Waterford City and County Council not later than the 27th March 2022. Any application to the District Court under the same provisions must be made not later than the 27th May 2022.

By Waterford City & County Council

Local Enterprise Office Waterford clients created nearly 300 jobs in 2021

Photo by Colin Shanahan – DigiCol Photography & Media Productions (c) 2017 – http://www.digicolphotography.com –

LOCAL ENTERPRISE OFFICE WATERFORD, NOW SUPPORTING 280 SMALL BUSINESSES AND 1,199 JOBS ACCORDING TO NEW FIGURES

  • 289 new jobs created in 2021
  • Net employment gain of 108 in 2021
  • 280 total small businesses employing 1,199 people supported by LEO Waterford

This week, An Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD, announced the annual results of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) for 2021 which showed that Local Enterprise Office Waterford supported companies created 289 jobs in 2021.

The net jobs created by Local Enterprise Office Waterford supported clients in 2021 was 108, which takes into account companies that amalgamated, ceased trading and those that transferred on to Enterprise Ireland. The new figures show that the LEO Waterford financially supported 280 small businesses in their portfolio across the county these companies in turn employ 1,199 people.

The Waterford LEO also provides substantial funded supports to hundreds of other small businesses across the county with programmes such as the Trading Online Voucher, Lean for Micro and Green for Micro along with training and mentoring.

The Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar TD said: “Over 35,000 people employed in small businesses around the country have been helped in some way by our Local Enterprise Offices. They are at the heart of communities in every county, always on hand to provide advice, training or financial backing and have proved invaluable throughout the pandemic, during which I know a huge amount of people relied on their local office.

“Last year, businesses supported by LEOs created nearly 3,000 net new jobs, which is remarkable given the year we just had. I’m really pleased to see that 85% of these jobs were outside of Dublin, indicating the Government’s focus on balanced regional development is working.

“These numbers a real boost today and will contribute to our overall target of having 2.5m people in work by 2024. Thank you to all our LEO staff for your phenomenal work over the past year.”

The Local Enterprise Offices were to the fore in supporting small businesses across the country in 2021, helping thousands to pivot online or adapt their products and services through a large suite of supports.  They Local Enterprise Offices offering training and mentoring in a range of areas from financial skills and product innovation to starting your own business and maximising your presence online.

Richie Walsh, Head of Enterprise at LEO Waterford, said; “These figures highlight the important role that Local Enterprise Office Waterford is playing in creating jobs and sustaining small businesses in the region.  The LEOs are the first engagement any entrepreneur or small business owner should have when they want to develop or grow their idea or company.  Every day Local Enterprise Offices help small businesses to get off the ground, overcome challenges, hire new staff, fund innovation, and plan for the future.  The range of supports on offer from the Local Enterprise Office will help anyone seeking to start or grow a small business through highly practical services such as professional business and management training, mentoring, networking opportunities, finance and much more.”    

Welcoming the strong employment results, Enterprise Ireland CEO, Leo Clancy said; “2021 was another very positive year for job creation in companies supported by the Local Enterprise Offices.  Companies supported by the Local Enterprise Offices are creating good quality employment across the country and play a vital role in vibrant local economies.

“Enterprise Ireland’s new strategy ‘Leading in a Changing World’ will see the Local Enterprise Offices and Enterprise Ireland continue to work closely together over the next three years to ensure that companies of all sizes have the best possible support to back their growth and development.”

The Local Enterprise Offices located in the local authorities and funded through Enterprise Ireland support over 7,158 small Irish businesses and entrepreneurs nationwide.  Since their establishment in 2014 they have been for the first stop shop for entrepreneurs and small businesses and providing a range of supports including financial, mentoring, training and sector specific expertise to help guide businesses at any stage of their development. For more information on the Local Enterprise Offices go to www.LocalEnterprise.ie

By Waterford City & County Council

Economic Incentive Scheme for Vacant Properties in Urban Areas 2021-2022

Waterford City & County Council is offering incentives over a three year period to attract new retail and other businesses within the core retail area of the City Centre, towns and village centre of Waterford in order to bring vibrancy and vitality to the city and town centres.

It is intended to ensure that any incoming retail or service use will respect and enhance the multifaceted character of the area and will allow and encourage a diversity of uses to increase its overall attractiveness for shopping, leisure and business purposes.

There will be a strong presumption in favour of grant-aid for higher order comparison retail outlets including fashion outlets – both multiple and independent stores, ‘lifestyle stores’, flagship stores, niche and specialist retailers such as home furnishings, beauty products, jewellery and bookshops.

For more details on the scheme, please read the scheme guidelines or contact one of the Economic Development Team. To apply for the scheme, register here.

By Waterford City & County Council

Dungarvan welcomes Ireland’s first outdoor ‘Learn to Cycle’ track

Ireland’s first and Dungarvan’s newest amenity area was officially opened with the addition of an outdoor ‘Learn to Cycle’ track.

The Learn to Cycle track will allow young children to learn to cycle on a ‘real life’ road structure with lines, signs and pedestrian crossing without the traffic.  This latest amenity at Fairlane adds to existing play facilities at the Linear Park, which include slides, swings and climbing frames, along with water fountains with bird feeding points which are a firm favourite with young and old. 

With Waterford Greenway close by, the new Learn to Cycle track will also allow for those new cyclists to get some practice before taking to the Greenway proper.

Chair of Dungarvan / Lismore District Cllr. Tom Cronin highlighted how important such civic amenities are to our towns, villages and communities. “People have a new appreciation of the outdoors, and the numbers using such amenities are continuously growing.  This new cycle track will give those who are new to cycling a chance to test out their wheels on a purpose-built track.  It will be great to see people using this new amenity here at Fairlane Park in a safe and family-friendly environment.”

Kieran Kehoe, Director of Services and Dungarvan Town Manager commented, “This amenity is so accessible within the town centre, and is easily reachable from all surrounding areas.  Dungarvan is a ‘Smarter Travel’ town, which means that Waterford City and County Council in promoting the safe use of cycling, this facility will enable children to learn a life skill which will encourage the use of sustainable transport methods and move from over reliance on cars as their only method of transport which will benefit the climate and the environment.  Cycling around Dungarvan has never been safer.”

The next phase of the development, a Performance Area is at an advanced stage of construction and is due to be opened in the coming months.  When completed the recreation park will include a BMX Pump Track and  Skatepark.

Peter Jones, Waterford Sports Partnership also commented, “This is an innovative and exciting venture from Waterford City and County Council, which has engaged with many partners to ensure this unique facility is open to the people of Dungarvan.  The facility’s aim is to ensure we have a safe environment for children of all abilities to learn to cycle safely.  It will allow us to deliver Cycling Ireland courses including balance bike training, disability cycling, sprocket rocket and Cycle Right in a completely accessible and traffic free environment.  The facility will also utilise QR codes to assist parents in coaching their own children.”

Waterford City and County Council’s Road Safety Officer, Jemma Jacob added “We anticipate creches and pre-schools will use the facility to deliver Road Safety Authority programmes such as Simon and Friends and Road Safety Awareness week events.  By including a ‘real life’ road structure and two teaching areas, this facility will allow youngsters to learn how to step, stride, glide and turn on balance bikes and put these skills to the test in a mock road situation.”

The overall cost of the cycle track was €50,000 with Waterford City and County Council receiving funding from the Local Government Fund and the Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation administered by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Works were completed earlier this month by contractors Richard Forristal Ltd.

-ENDS-

By Waterford City & County Council

Local Enterprise Office Waterford awards over 1 Million in Grant Aid to local business in 2021

The Local Enterprise Office in Waterford released its 2021 grant aid figures last week.

€886,189 in financial grants were approved in 2021 to 32 applicants, with a further 95 businesses being approved Trading Online Vouchers to value of €192,609.  This was added to the 2381 businesses who received training and mentoring in order to grow their business and increase employment in the county.

Manufacturing and technology were the biggest recipients with food manufacturing in particular a large growth area within the county, with 8 businesses receiving €231,174 in grant aid. This follows Waterford’s success in food production in recent years, with ten Waterford winners in the Blas na hEireann Awards in 2021.

The figures were announced by Senior Enterprise Development Officer with the LEO Waterford, Jacqui Gaule, who was joined by Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr. Joe Kelly.

Mayor Kelly elaborated on the wider importance of these grants, “Waterford City and County Council’s Local Enterprise Office has awarded significant financial aid over the years, but this has never been more important than in the last 12 months to growing businesses in our county in 2021. This level of investment is sure to support job creation in Waterford. I would encourage any business who hopes to grow in 2022 to engage with our Local Enterprise Office and avail of the supports which are available.”

Jacqui explained the importance of the grants for manufacturing and internationally traded services, “Waterford has developed its talent pool significantly over the past decade and not only created an environment for indigenous entrepreneurs, it is now also attracting talent from outside the region. We at the Local Enterprise Office are delighted to assist where we can, both financially and with our expert mentors. We’ve seen a particular growth in businesses seeking support for manufacturing and internationally traded services.”

The Local Enterprise Office Waterford serves as a ‘first stop shop’ to provide strategic, administrative, technical and financial support and services to start, grow and develop micro and small business in Waterford.

It’s here to help you start a business, expand an existing business or reach new markets. It provides advice, information and supports in starting up or growing your business as part of a network of 31 Local Enterprise Offices across Ireland. 

Contact your Local Enterprise Office Waterford for their latest training programmes and events schedule on www.localenterprise.ie/Waterford.

Photo:           David Murphy

LEO Waterford Senior Enterprise Development Officer, Jacqui Gaule, and Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr. Joe Kelly.

By Waterford City & County Council

RRDF funding announced for Dungarvan Digital Transformation Hub (DDTH)

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today announced €21.5 million for 27 landmark regeneration projects in rural communities across the country.

Waterford City and County Council is delighted to have been successful with its most recent application under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF) for the provision of Digital Transformation Hubs in Dungarvan Town.

With a number of projects approved for funding involving the re-purposing of old, derelict and historical buildings into modern-day remote working hubs, as well as enterprise, cultural and community facilities, the funding of €1.4m will provide three digital hubs in Dungarvan.

Overall, the Dungarvan Digital Transformation Hubs (DDTH) will provide remote working facilities in the town centre for a wide range of enterprises and people across the region, including connectivity for rural dwellers and realise capacity for 190 people working in Dungarvan town centre.

It will also help provide digital knowledge, skills and innovation programmes, supports and services, along with connectivity to major Research & Innovation and Knowledge Creation centres, such as Waterford Institute of Technology, University College Cork and The Irish Manufacturing Research Centre.

Through outreach to all enterprises in Dungarvan, its environs, and rural villages, towns and communities in West Waterford,  DDTH will help ‘de-mystify’ the digital conversation and journey.  DDTH will also provide essential training facilities enabling up-skilling through various training programmes, while a Digital Incubator Programme will assist established enterprises or start-ups deliver a Proof of Concept (POC).

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr Joe Kelly welcomed the announcement saying that the hubs will harness the digital transformation of Dungarvan and the surrounding areas.  “This flagship project has the commitment, backing and drive to keep Dungarvan at the forefront of transformative change, research and innovation.”

“These facilities will not only help retain local talent, they will also attract talent from outside the area and help make Dungarvan an even better place to live, work and invest in.”

Kieran Kehoe, Director of Services, Waterford City and County Council and project manager confirmed, “The overall ambition of this project is to retain and grow talent within the west Waterford area, provide a regional base for former commuters travelling to Cork, Waterford and beyond, and attract new start-ups from within the community or from wider afield, and support economic development.”

“These proposed facilities are a key component of our emerging Dungarvan 2040 development strategy and will provide affordable office space with access to high-speed broadband, reception and meeting room services.  The creation of this new Digital Knowledge Hub fully accords with the Dept of Rural & Community Development’s ‘Town Centre First’ and ‘Our Rural Future’ strategy documents and we look forward to working with Minister Humphries and her department on bringing this project to fruition.”

The funding announcement of €1.4m is the culmination of collaborative work between Waterford City and County Council,  Jenny Beresford and West Waterford Chamber of Commerce, Richie Walsh and Local Enterprise Office Waterford, Colin Byrne of TOTEM Meaningful Branding, Denis Herlihy, Dungarvan Enterprise Centre, WIT, UCC and Brian Quinn, specialist digital / technical advisor from Second Edge Technology Solutions Ltd.

-ENDS-

By Waterford City & County Council

Local Enterprise Office launches Waterford’s first Student Enterprise Website

Dozens of local student businesses are now being promoted on the new website

For the first time ever there is a one stop shop for access to all student businesses in Waterford for the 2021/22 Student Enterprise Programme.

Photo by Colin Shanahan – DigiCol Photography (c) 2021 – http://www.digicolphotography.com

WWW.WATERFORDSTUDENTENTERPRISE.COM

Everything from sports to crafts, jewellery to tasty treats, you can search for a business via the school they attend or the industry they represent.

Ireland’s largest student enterprise programme is now in its 20th year.  An initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices to encourage entrepreneurship in secondary schools, the Student Enterprise Programme has seen over 300,000 secondary school students take part since it first began.

Designed by local company Eagle Dreams, the website was created so all student businesses in Waterford can be one click away from their customers, no matter what age or product or service.

Speaking at the launch of the website, Richie Walsh of Local Enterprise Office Waterford congratulated the students, saying “We have a very successful student enterprise programme here in Waterford, with over 900 students from 11 local schools taking part this year. What our students are learning from the programme is that with the right supports and encouragement, they can take an idea from the classroom and develop it into a real-life business.”.

The impact of COVID on the programme has been significant, but one ray of light is that it has forced more student to sell online. Last year’s winners, Dalia Jewels, has sold its products in all 32 counties in Ireland and over a dozen countries including America, north Africa and Japan. That is why we decided to create this website, to help promote these young entrepreneurs in their efforts to sell their products and services.”

The enterprise education initiative, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country, saw over 29,000 students from almost 500 secondary schools across the country take part in 2020 / 2021 with similar numbers expected to be involved this year.

Since the Student Enterprise Programme began in 2003, over 300,000 students have taken part, learning key skills on how to create a business idea, start a business and grow a business.  The Student Enterprise Programme also has new range of online resources for 2021 / 2022 at www.StudentEnterprise.ie, which will feature regular blogs and houses a full range of Student Enterprise resources for students and teachers.

By Waterford City & County Council

Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys announces €2.6 million for the development of the first ever Town Centre First Plans

Funding to support 26 towns in mapping out their future development

·       Focus on tackling dereliction, vacant properties and making town centres more attractive places to live, work, socialise and run a business

·       Initiative to help re-imagine and revitalise rural communities as part of forthcoming Town Centre First Policy

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has today announced €2.6 million in funding to deliver the first ever Town Centre First Plans, which will be key to tackling dereliction and revitalising town centres.

As part of the initiative, each local authority will be provided with €100,000 to support the development of its own unique master plan.

Among the 26 towns selected include Carrick-on-Shannon in Co. Leitrim, Skibbereen in Co. Cork, Roscrea in Co. Tipperary and Abbeyfeale in Co. Limerick.

Clara in Co. Offaly, Clane in Co. Kildare, New Ross in Co. Wexford and Gort in Co. Galway are other examples of towns selected.

Each local authority will now work closely with local community groups, retailers and the other members of the Town Teams in devising and delivering on the objectives of their respective masterplans.

This initiative is a key part of Our Rural Future – the Government’s ambitious five-year strategy designed to reimagine and revitalise Rural Ireland.

It is also linked to the Government’s ‘Housing for All’ strategy and the forthcoming ‘Town Centre First Policy’, which will be announced in the coming weeks.

Announcing the details of the 26 towns, Minister Humphreys said:

“I am really pleased to announce the first ever Town Centre First Plans as part of a €2.6 million investment for Rural Ireland.

“Each local authority has put forward one of their towns which will receive €100,000 from my Department to develop its own unique master plan.

“This is about delivering on the objectives of ‘Our Rural Future’ and ensuring our towns have the right plan in place to tackle the issues of dereliction, vacant properties, and above all, to become better places to live, work and run a business.

“The development of these 26 Plans will feed into the Government’s overall Town Centre First Policy, which will be launched in the coming weeks.”

The Town Centre First Plans will be guided by a strong empirical base and developed collaboratively with local Town Teams involving community, business, as well as public private stakeholders.

It is envisaged that the Plans will cover the importance of “place-making”, town centre living, the social and economic purpose of the town, and respond to emerging opportunities such as those linked to remote working, climate action and digitalisation.

The Plans will also be central to addressing vacancy and dereliction in these locations.

€100,000 will be available to each town.

Towns for this first phase were selected based on submissions received from the Local Authorities.

The funding will support each local authority, working with a collaborative Town Team, to develop a be-spoke TCF plan to guide the development of each town.

The focus will be on the town centre and immediate surrounds. Each Plan will set out specific actions and interventions and help unlock national funding streams such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town & Village Renewal Scheme to resource delivery of these interventions.

Minister Humphreys continued:

“Our rural towns and villages play a central role in the lives of people in rural areas.  They are where we live, work, shop and socialise.  It is important that we ensure our towns and villages remain vibrant, vital and relevant places. 

“Each town selected as part of this initiative will has its own strengths and each will face different challenges as it maps out its future path. No one size fits all policy will work.

“The Plans will be developed in tandem with Town Teams that are representative of the local towns and who can bring a wealth of knowledge and local expertise.”

The Minister concluded:

“I am delighted that ‘Our Rural Future’ continues to deliver tangible benefits across Rural Ireland. We are rolling out a range of investments for our towns and villages, particularly through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town & Village Renewal Scheme.

“The €7 million Streetscape Enhancement Scheme is also having a really positive impact in approximately 120 towns and villages right across the county.

“These Plans being announced today will form part of the Government’s wider Town Centre First Policy which will be published shortly in conjunction with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

“Finally, I should stress that this is the first phase of funding for these Plans under the Town Centre First Policy and other towns will be afforded opportunities to develop such plans as we move forward.”

ENDS

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