As businesses across all sectors turn their attention to a gradual reopening of services, Sligo County Council have teamed up with the Sligo Economic Forum to establish a ‘one stop shop’ for getting Sligo based enterprises Back to Business. Sligo County Council have been foremost in terms of key responses to the Covid – 19 Pandemic firstly in setting up the Community support response, following that with a number of linked measures such as the Health and Well being promotional campaign, and now building a comprehensive collaborative Back to Business Supports directory on its recently launched Sligo.ie website, itself developed to support all things positive about Sligo.
Aaron Forde, Chair of the Sligo Economic Forum, sympathetic to traders trying to embark on the difficult journey back, reflected on the suite of supports available to business across the country and the practical impact this Sligo Focused directory will have, “Agencies across all industries are continuing to provide as much support to Irish enterprise as possible, this has come in the form of soft supports in training and information building, as well as financial supports to ensure companies have the best opportunity possible to get Back to Business. The challenge therein lies with navigating our way through the plethora of messages on social media channels or news feeds. This online space will allow businesses to find the supports that are relevant to them and possibly discover other useful funds that may ease the challenge in reopening and returning to what will be a new structure in commercial trading.”
Sligo County Council Chief Executive, Ciarán Hayes, echoed these sentiments and commented on the nature of the Sligo Economy, “Sligo boasts a diverse economy with a busy urban hub, supported by a comprehensive network of multinational and indigenous enterprise. Comprehensive supports have been made available to all types of businesses, whether a small independent retailer, an accommodation provider dependant on tourist trade, or indeed a ‘home grown’ start up, developing in what was a fast paced and progressive economy. We must also ensure that we work together in restarting our economy, getting back to business is not about competing with one another, but rather working together as a cohesive unit, making the most of our strengths and ensuring that Sligo is front and foremost in adapting to the new economic landscape we are facing”.
The newly elected Cathaoirleach Cllr Dara Mulvey said that he is very supportive of the campaign saying that as a new member of the Sligo Economic Forum, since his election to the role of Cathaoirleach of Sligo County Council recently, he wished to acknowledge all partners working together in Sligo city and also across the county, all of whom have one goal and that is to continue to build opportunities for business in Sligo, at this very challenging time for communities. All areas but the rural communities in particular will feel the impact of the crisis he considered.
