Clare business owners urged to apply for €4000 Power Up Grant

CLARE Fine Gael General election candidate Leonora Carey has called on local retail and hospitality businesses to register for the newly launched Power Up grant, which will provide a €4,000 tax free cash payment before Christmas.

“The €170 million fund was announced in the recent budget and is aimed at supporting small local cafés, restaurants, pubs and retailers. The scheme is administered by the Local Authority network, who are now emailing all eligible businesses with details on how to register,” Ms Carey explained.

“Fine Gael are targeting small hospitality and retail businesses with this support, as we know they face the highest cost increases, in areas such as electricity and wages. This latest payment will go some way to help with rising costs during the busy Christmas period and it brings the total paid out in grants over the past six months to small, family-run businesses to €244 million.

“Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister Peter Burke has confirmed to me that all those who received the Increased Cost of Business Grant second round earlier this year are eligible. This includes all businesses involved in retail and hospitality who have rates bills under €30,000.  

“The Power Up portal will remain open until Friday, November 8 and I am urging Clare business owners not to lose out, to check their emails and register without further delay.” 

“Over recent weeks I have met with business owners who play a crucial role in our towns and villages all over the county and I am working on proposals for inclusion in the Fine Gael election manifesto that seek to address more of issues being raised by them,” Ms Carey concluded.