Galway East TD and Minister for Digital Development Seán Canney has urged Galway businesses to take advantage of grants of up to €5,000 to help them get online.
The Government has announced an additional investment of €14.2 million in the Trading Online Vouchers Scheme for small and micro enterprises following unprecedented demand.
Minister Canney said: “The Local Enterprise Offices that administer the scheme on behalf of my Department, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment, have seen three years’ worth of applications in just three months as a result of the COVID-19 emergency.
“The crisis has demonstrated that being online is an essential tool for business.”
“It also underlines the fundamental need of all enterprises for access to high-speed broadband.
“As the National Broadband Plan is rolled out the demand for online services will grow incrementally so offering support to businesses such as the Trading Online Vouchers Scheme makes absolute sense as we plan for economic recovery.
“The Government has invested a total of €20 million in Trading Online Vouchers in 2020, which represents an almost 1,000% expansion of the scheme this year.
“The additional funding means we will be able to issue 7,700 vouchers this year compared with 1,200 last year. I strongly urge all Galway small and micro enterprises to apply.”
Under the scheme, small businesses can claim up to €5,000 in two grants worth €2,500 each. The scheme also facilitates subscriptions to low-cost online retailing platforms so retailers can quickly establish their presence online.
Included in the additional funding is an allocation of €600,000 for Údarás na Gaeltachta to deliver the scheme in Gaeltacht areas.
Notes to Editor:
Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) Trading Online Voucher
The Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs) Trading Online Voucher is a scheme, designed to assist small and microenterprises (10 or less employees) by offering financial assistance of up to €2,500 towards training and advice to help your business trade online.
The Trading Online Voucher grant scheme is administered by the LEOs on behalf of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment as part of the national digital strategy. The grant is available to cover 90% of the costs of an online initiative and recipients can be awarded up to two grants of €2,500 to companies which have successfully implemented an initial grant offer. Participating
in the scheme can make the process of trading online much easier for businesses.
See: localenterprise.ie/Discover-Business-Supports
Trading Online Vouchers can be used for:
- Development or upgrade of an e-commerce website, such as implementing online payments or booking systems
- Purchase of internet related software – online advertising (subject to limits)
- Development of an app
- Development and/or implementation of a digital marketing strategy consultation with ICT experts
- Training and support to develop and manage online trading activity and subscriptions to low cost online retail platform solutions
Changes to the scheme:
On April 8 2020 Minister Humphreys in conjunction with Minister Bruton announced amendments to the scheme intended to boost the numbers of businesses seeking to engage in online trading. The grant is available to cover 90% (previously 50%) of the costs of an online initiative and recipients can be allocated up to two vouchers each of €2,500 to companies which have successfully implemented an initial grant
offer.
The vouchers are targeted at businesses with the following pro”arial, sans-serif” size=”4″>
- Limited or no e-commerce presence
- 10 or less employees
- Turnover less than €2m
- Applicant business must be trading for at least 6 Months
- Business must be located in the area covered by the LEO to whom they make their application i.e. LEOs cannot accept applications from businesses locatedoutside their jurisdiction
For more information, contact Minister Canney on 086-2513639
June 8 2020
