Dozens of would-be Donegal entrepeneurs are to be given a chance to create jobs across Donegal.
The New Frontiers Programme will be located at the CoLab Centre at Letterkenny Institute of Technology.
Senator Jimmy Harte said the new programme demontrates some “joined-up htinking on job creation.”
“At the start of this month the Government launched its Action Plan for Jobs. This plan set out in 270 points how we were going to help create jobs in Ireland.
“The New Frontiers programme is a part of one of these action points and we are already delivering it. It is another example of how the Labour Party in Government is serious about job creation.
“Enterprise Ireland and the Institutes of Technology are working together to deliver this programme. Together they will give people the opportunity to start their own business and bring employment to their local areas.
“Our local Letterkenny Institute of Technology is taking part in this programme see Website: www.co-lab.ie for further details this can only be good news for Donegal. This will help those with good ideas to convert them into real jobs which are needed to stimulate the local economy.
“New Frontiers will give people a chance to take their business ideas and make them happen. 250 people will be taken through a part time 8 week course to test their business idea,” he said.
The 150 people who qualify will be taken through an intensive 6 month course to turn their idea into a viable company.
They will receive €15,000 to help them start their business along with space in their local IOT at CoLab business incubation centre. It is hoped that a 100 companies will be created out of this programme with an average of 5 jobs per company.
“We said when The Action Plan was launched that it is a working document. We have already delivered on one of Action Points. We are focused on delivering on the rest and getting people back to work,” said Senator Harte.
