Burke calls on local retail and hospitality businesses to sign up for Power Up Grant

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment, Peter Burke TD, is urging Westmeath businesses in the hospitality and retail sector to register now for the €4,000 Power Up Grant.

The new grant, announced as part of the budget and launched this week, is specifically aimed at small local cafes, restaurants, pubs and retailers and will provide a tax-free cash payment of €4,000 directly into their bank account, paid before Christmas.

Local authorities will be issuing emails on how to apply for the Power Up Grant to businesses today, with the online portal open from 12.30pm and accessible via www.enterprise.gov.ie

“I am very aware of the struggles that businesses in the hospitality and retail sectors continue to face,” commented Minister Burke.

“From speaking to business the length and breadth of the constituency, from Moate to Castlepollard and Mullingar, they all share concern about the cost of energy, and this will hopefully ease some of the pressure they face at an essential time of year for the sector as we enter the busy Christmas period.

“The Power Up Grant has a budget of €170 million and is available to businesses that received a second payment under the Increased Cost of Business Scheme.

“Registrations for the Power Up Grant are open. In order to get payments out to our shops, to our small restaurants, to our cafes and to our pubs before the end of the year, I am strongly urging businesses to register without delay. Local Authorities are emailing businesses that qualify with details on how to register as we speak, so all business owners need to check their emails and find their link.

“I want to thank the Local Authorities for their tremendous work in administering these grants on behalf of my Department. They are the closest arm of the state to many of our businesses and have direct links into businesses at a local level,” he concluded.

Retail and hospitality businesses who received the second ICOB payment can register for the €4,000 one-off power up grant, once they receive their email from their Local Authority.

This grant will be similar to the ICOB scheme and registration has been specifically designed to be quick and easy. The Local Authority network is administering this scheme on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.