Hopkins commends SBCI initiatives and urges local entrepreneurs to apply for low-cost finance

Councillor Maura Hopkins has commended the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) this week, a State-backed fund that is providing cheap loans to small businesses across the county. Speaking at the SCBI business breakfast this week in the Sheraton Hotel in Athlone, the general election candidate encouraged entrepreneurs and local businesses  to consider speaking to the corporation  when assessing the suite of financing options available to  help  achieve business objectives.

“This morning’s discussions were highly interesting and I am really encouraged by the work the SBCI is doing across the country. They have lent over €110 million to 3,200 small and medium sized businesses since March and the loans are often 2% cheaper than banking funds, as well as more flexible.

“Initiatives set up by this Government, including the SBCI and the Action Plan for Jobs in the West, are tackling the under-investment in the West of Ireland and I would urge all local businesses, big and small, to look up the SBCI’s website for more information if they feel they have potential for growth and expansion.

Concluding, Hopkins highlighted her pride in the region and stated that she did not want people in the area to miss out on key initiatives which could help businesses to develop:

“We have a highly skilled workforce here in the West, good infrastructure and a good quality of life for those who work and live here. The SBCI are ready and willing to work alongside regional businesses to take advantage of this potential and create jobs along the way-5,000 new jobs have been created in the West of Ireland over the past year. Roscommon and Galway should not miss out on valuable State-backed finance solutions and I urge people to look up the various offerings. I want everyone in this region to feel the full effects of this recovery and continue to take pride in our local towns and villages”.