The Dept. of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) has awarded grant funding to two local Social Enterprises in Cork City under the Small Capitol Grant scheme. Deaf Enterprises of the Ballinlough Road and Benchspace Cork based at Centre Park road both received grants.

The scheme which is funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund to the tune of €1 million nationally, provided grants for equipment, repairs & refurbishments Mr Conor Cahill, General manager of Deaf Enterprise said the grant of €10,000 was very welcome and would be used to purchase a Prefab workshop and training facility. ‘This will allow us to increase our services in line with the 3 year plan for Deaf Enterprises’ Benchspace Cork, which is the first shared, not-for-profit design space in Ireland, will purchase 2 x specialist wood planning and processing machines with the grant of €15,000 according to Fergal Somers, Managing Director of Benchspace. Cork City Partnership CLG worked locally to promote and collate the Small Capitol Grant applications and will administer the scheme on behalf of DRCD. Photo shows: Representatives from Deaf Enterprises, Benchspace and Cork City Partnership at the awarding of the Small Capitol Grants scheme.