Clare small and medium-sized businesses have received close to half a million euro in funding through the Increased Cost of Business Grant.
Over 200 businesses here have been successful in their applications for the grant, which was introduced as part of Budget 2024.
Of the 2,165 registered small and medium-sized businesses in this county, 1,837 of them, or almost 85%, applied for the Increased Cost of Business Grant.
Under the scheme, qualifying businesses with a commercial rate bill of less than €10,000 last year receive a grant of 50% of their rate bill, while those with a rate bill of between €10,000 and €30,000 receive a payment of €5,000.
217 businesses in Clare which applied for the scheme were successful in their applications, resulting in a total pay-out for the county of €452,150.
This means as of May 15th, Clare County Council has approved the twelfth-highest allocation under the scheme nationwide.
Wexford County Council has approved the highest level of funding of €3.25 million for 1,623 businesses, while neither Kerry County Council nor Cork County Council have approved any funding under the scheme yet.
Nationally, €23.46 million in funding has been approved, with just under €15 million of this having been paid out so far.
The scheme is currently open again and local authorities are accepting submissions until next Wednesday May 29th.
