4 Waterford Businesses share in Covid Fund to Strengthen Online Presence

Funding has been given to a number of retailers in Waterford to strengthen their online offering and enable them to reach a wider customer base.

Successful applicants were approved for funding through the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme, which is administered by Enterprise Ireland. 

The funding of €6.5 million was allocated to 183 retailers nationwide to accelerate their online offering and increase their competitiveness. The four businesses in Waterford are Best Tile in the Six Cross Roads Business Park, The Book Centre, Ardkeen Superstores and Fitzgeralds Menswear.

The announcement has been welcomed by Fine Gael Senator John Cummins who says  “There is no doubt that the Covid-19 pandemic has been difficult for businesses in Waterford but they have stepped up to the plate in coming up with dynamic and innovative ways of trading while adhering to public health protocols.

“The Government has put in place a suite of financial supports to help businesses respond to the pandemic.

“This particular scheme was introduced back in April to assist indigenous Irish retailers to better establish themselves online – which was essential to get them through the crisis and will be even more important in helping them to trade going forward.

“I welcome funding for four retailers in Waterford, so that they can be more competitive, sustain jobs and subsequently scale their businesses in international markets. They are among 183 of the 373 applicants that were successful in this round of funding. Over 100 Waterford businesses have also availed of the Trading Online Voucher Scheme, sharing over a quarter of a million euro between them since the start of the year.

Announcing the funding, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD said, “This €6.5 million fund will enable 183 Irish retailers to boost their online capability and grow their business offering. Competition is no longer local. If our businesses want to be competitive today and in the longer term, we need to see more Irish retailers fully embrace the digital opportunity.

“That is why I am pleased to announce that Enterprise Ireland will open a 2^nd Call under the Covid-19 Online Retail Scheme in the coming weeks. The new Government’s job over the next few weeks and months is to help businesses get back on track in every way we can.

“As our workplaces and businesses reopen, we must help our country recover, repair the damage that has been done, and restore confidence and prosperity. The July Jobs Stimulus will be radical and far-reaching and will set our economy on the right course for the next five years and beyond.”