Three local businesses have been awarded funding under the Government’s Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme, Clare TD Joe Carey announced today.
Deputy Carey acknowledged retailers across Clare have been hit “extremely hard by Covid-19”, with many forced to move their sales online to survive.
The local Fine Gael TD said: “The Government has been working to ensure retailers are supported as they move online during this challenging time and my colleague the Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Damien English, has announced a €5.3 million Online Retail Scheme.”
The local retailers to benefit from this round of funding are:
*Cullinan & Sons Ltd;
*Ennis Electrical & Gas supplies Ltd;
*Zest At Ltd.
Deputy Carey said: “This is the second call of the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme and it is targeted at retailers who already have an online presence to help them strengthen their online offering and enable them to reach a wider customer base. The successful applicants will receive funding ranging from €16,000 to €40,000 with an average grant value of €36,700 covering up to 80% of project costs.
“Fine Gael has always supported small and medium businesses as we know they are the backbone of local economies in towns and villages right around the country. 70% of the successful applicants for this scheme are actually located outside Dublin and I am delighted that hard pressed retailers in Clare are benefitting.”
Minister English added: “The Government continues to focus on helping businesses to get back on track in the coming months and as more of our workplaces and businesses can reopen in the coming weeks, in line with public health guidelines, we will do everything we can to support retailers in creating safe shopping spaces, in store and online, for customers and staff.”
