O’Keeffe welcomes Leader funding

THE announcement of funding worth more than €160,000 for two Mitchelstown food businesses has been warmly welcomed by locally based Cork East TD Kevin O’Keeffe.

The funding is part of a € 550,000 funding package for 12 businesses across the country under the Leader Food Programme, operated by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

Under the initiative Hodgins Sausages has been allocated substantial funding €156,586 that will be used to purchase equipment to help the family run Coolnanave enterprise develop two new product categories.

Ellen Lewis Hanley has been allocated funding of €6,448.28 for the expansion of a bakery facility to help offset the cost of future diversification and the development of new products.

Deputy O’Keeffe said the state aid, which will be delivered through Ballyhoura Leader, would be critically important to the expansion plans of both businesses.

“It is great to see projects like these supporting our community and food producers. Mitchelstown is an ideal location for innovation of food which has been reflected by the many businesses developed within and around the town over the years,” he said.

“The Leader Programme Initiative offers local projects and food businesses great opportunities and I would strongly encourage other projects and food businesses to avail of this scheme,” he added.

To find out more about he initiative and to find out how to apply for funding visit http://drcd.gov.ie/ wp- content/ uploads/ list- of-LAGs.pdf.