In 2020 The Clean Technology Centre partnered with Longford County Council to develop the Going Green Longford project.
The aim of the initiative was the support micro businesses in County Longford to improve their environmental performance and competitiveness through resource efficiency and other actions.
CTC worked closely with the Longford Enterprise Office (LEO) to promote and develop the scheme. The initiative offered micro businesses in Longford up to €5000 to make environmental improvements to their business.
The benefits to the companies who joined the programme were:
- Up to a €5000 grant for environmental improvements
- Access to an Environmental Auditor and an individualised Environmental Audit
- Environmental Training to help the companies get the most out of your grant
- Opportunities for both short- and long-term cost savings as a result of the environmental work completed
- Free promotional and marketing opportunities as part of the Going Green Programme
- Access to a Programme Coordinator to help with every step of the process
As part of the programme CTC carried out environmental audits and provided training for companies to improve their resource efficiencies and reduce their carbon footprints. The companies were then required to implement environmental initiatives to avail of the €5,000 grant. CTC worked with the companies in that process.
Eligibility criteria included:
- Enterprises must employing 10 or less staff, have a turnover of less than €2 million per annum
- Going Green is a joint-programme for the Midlands area between Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath LEOs, therefore, entrant businesses must be located within the geographical area covered by the Going Green Programme i.e. within counties of Laois, Longford, Offaly or Westmeath
- Projects must result in a positive environmental impact, as determined by the Local Enterprise Office, in consultation with the Environmental Auditor
- Grant covers 80% of eligible costs (net of VAT) to a max of €5000
Of the 32 companies that participated, 85% have progressed to implementing green projects.
Projects completed included: LED lighting, Solar PV, Wastewater recovery, biodiversity enhancement and circular economy projects.