Kerry County Council's Local Enterprise Office has welcomed the announcement of a major expansion of supports for businesses impacted by COVID-19, including an expansion of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme and a reduction in the interest rate for Microfinance Ireland loans.

Among the provisions is the expansion of the €2,500 Trading Online Voucher Scheme through Local Enterprise Offices, for businesses employing up to 10 people. An additional €3.3m is being provided to the scheme bringing the total available nationally to €5.6m. Local businesses in Kerry that previously benefitted from the Trading Online Voucher Scheme can apply for a second voucher of up to €2,500, with co-funding of 10 percent.The voucher can be used to help add payment or booking systems to websites, along with subscriptions to low-cost online retailing platform solutions.

A substantial reduction in interest rates on Microfinance Ireland loans was also announced, bringing the rate down to 4.5 percent, where applications are made through Local Enterprise Office Kerry. COVID-19 Business Loans of up to €50,000 are available from Microfinance Ireland with no repayments and no interest charged in the first six months, for eligible businesses that employ less than 10 people.

“The measures will help to meet the varying needs of Irish enterprise and they are very specifically targeted by size, sector and need,” Head of the Kerry Local Enterprise Office, Tomás Hayes said.

“The impact of COVID-19 presents unprecedented difficulties for businesses. Kerry Local Enterprise is available to advise and support local businesses during the months ahead. For many local businesses, the options for trading are very limited as a result of COVID-19. However, there are a lot of opportunities in online selling and by accessing this Trading Online Voucher scheme, small businesses can develop a sustainable strategy for increasing sales,” he said.

If your business needs access to finance, applying for microfinance loans through Local Enterprise Office Kerry will secure the lowest available rate and you will get valuable assistance in the application process and free one-to-one mentoring along the way, Tomás added.

Meanwhile, Local Enterprise Offices have also moved the majority of training programmes, workshops and networking online, making them as accessible as possible for those working remotely. These relate to supporting online trading activity and business presentation through digital marketing.

More details about small business supports available through Local Enterprise Office Kerry can be found at LocalEnterprise.ie/Kerry by emailing leo@kerrycoco.ie or telephoning 066 7183522.

A guide to Local Enterprise Office supports can be found at LocalEnterprise.ie/Response, along with details of Enterprise Ireland supports.