LOUTH COUNTY ENTERPRISE FUND COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

Louth County Enterprise Fund Company Limited By Guarantee is a not-for-profit finance initiative that has been helping entrepreneurs and small businesses in the region since 1989. Seed capital was provided by the International Fund for Ireland and the fund has been bolstered over the years by donations from a range of supporters, enabling it to step in where traditional lenders and State schemes cannot.

The Fund offers unsecured business loans of up to €25,000, typically at a 7 % interest rate, with repayment terms of three to five years. Its loan portfolio spans a broad cross-section of sectors, from start-ups to established enterprises, including many social-enterprise and community-focused projects. Decisions are made by a Board and an Assessment Committee that bring together private- and public-sector expertise, allowing the Fund to apply local knowledge and discretion to each application.

To date the Enterprise Fund has supported around 500 entrepreneurs, generating and sustaining thousands of jobs across the Louth area and beyond. Its focus remains on providing accessible finance to those who have struggled to secure funding through mainstream channels.