How Laois compares to neighbours for new grant aided jobs
A full list of the new jobs supported by Local Enterprise Offices shows how Laois fared compared to neighbouring counties Offaly, Kilkenny, Kildare, Carlow and Tipperary.
The 2022 employment survey of LEO clients showed that their grants and supports helped to create a total nett gain of 3,447 jobs across the Irish state in each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices.
LEO Laois shows a net gain of 79 new jobs in 2022, up by 32 jobs on 2021, supporting 148 businesses.
It was the second lowest in the Midlands counties however, with just Carlow in lower at 56 jobs created through grants to 219 clients.
The highest gain for its neighbours went to Tipperary, with 258 jobs added over 2022 to the county in 283 companies supported by the LEO office.
Next is Offaly LEO who showed a net gain of 154 jobs among 204 businesses.
Then comes Kildare LEO who showed a net gain of 148 jobs across 256 businesses.
In other Midlands counties Longford LEO helped create 87 jobs across 253 clients, and Westmeath LEO created 195 jobs supporting 258 companies.
Over the past five years from January 2018 to December 2022, €2,236, 474 was approved in LEO funding to Laois based companies, with most of that handed out, €2,178,885, which helped to create 308 jobs.
Laois LEO say 2022 was a very productive year for them, in a report given to Laois County Council's January 2023 meeting.
There was €319,514 approved in grant aid to 14 Laois businesses with the potential to create 51 new jobs.
Another €14,054 was approved in TAME awards to support business to develop exports.
Some 34 Trading online vouchers were approved worth €71,870.
260 Laois businesses availed of memtoring with over 300 one -to-one business advice sessions delivered.
They delivered 85 training courses to 979 participants, of which 135 are potential startup businesses.
Eight companies took part in the Lean for Micro programme.
Ten took part in the Midlands Management Development Programme, and 11 in a six week Grow Your Business Programme.
31 companies took part in the Green for Micro programme.
Laois LEO helped 10 companies to apply to Micro Finance Ireland.
Seven Laois secondary schools took part in their Student Enterprise Awards Programme.
Over 100 businesses attended Local Enterprise Week in March 2022.