Facebook is expanding its €4.7 million small business grant programme to businesses all across Ireland.
The grant is a combination of cash and ad credits to help small businesses as they reset, rebuild and recover operations following the challenges Covid-19 has throwm up.
Last month the social media giant said it would provide €4.7m in grants to over 1,000 small businesses in Dublin, Cork and Meath, where Facebook has offices and data centres but today said the grants would now be available nationwide.
Closing date for applications is Thursday, October 15, and eligible businesses can apply at the Facebook small business grant webpage.
A recent survey - conducted by OECD, the World Bank and Facebook - revealed that cashflow is a concern for the majority of SMEs.
54% of Irish SMEs on Facebook said they expected cash flow to be a challenge in the coming months.
Facebook said its SME grant programme aims to help businesses by providing cash for essential bills and helping to pay employees. It will also provide ad credits to help SMEs generate revenue through online marketing and sales.
Ciaran Quilty, VP of Global Business Group for EMEA at Facebook, said the Covid-19 crisis is more than just a public health crisis, it is an economic crisis.
He said that small businesses in particular have been most affected and are facing the challenge of a lifetime.
"We recognise that SMEs need cash, training, digitalisation assistance and improved social connection infrastructure as consumer behaviour shifts online. We also know that a little financial support goes a long way and we hope the grants and online training programme will help SMEs survive and recover through this crisis," Mr Quilty added.
