Enterprise Ireland has approved nearly £4.5 million in grants to 16 projects under its Community Enterprise Initiative scheme, the Tanaiste announced yesterday. The grants, which will help community enterprises in a number of urban areas of high longterm unemployment, bring to almost £8 million the total so far awarded under the scheme.
A sum of £13.5 million has been set aside for the grants to cover 1999 and 2000, with a maximum capital grant per project of £1 million. Community groups are encouraged to raise the balance from other public funds, the private sector and local contributions.
Some 73 proposals representing more than £25 million have been received by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment since the scheme was announced by Ms Harney last July.
The scheme is managed jointly by Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development.
The largest of yesterday's grants went to Bawnogue Development Group in Dublin and Limerick Enterprise Development, which received £1 million each; Balbriggan Enterprise and Training Centre, £438,425; Kilkenny Community Information Age, £716,000; Waterford City Community Centre, £395,000; Cork Urban Enterprise Ltd, £375,000; Sligo Community Enterprise Fund, £360,000.
Sums of £5,000 each were awarded to community enterprise groups in Bray, Co Wicklow; Coolock, Donnycarney, The Liberties, SWIC Network, Dublin; Mahon, Cork, and Wexford; while £30,000 went to Moyross Community Enterprise Centre, Limerick.
