The Kilkenny County Enterprise Board continues to provide supports to facilitate the establishment, development and growth of micro-enterprises in the county. The Board, chaired by the County Manager, Mr. Michael Malone, comprises representatives of a wide range of state and semi-state organisations along with local business and community interests. The Board also has four elected representatives, nominated by Kilkenny County Council, giving democratic legitimacy and accountability to the Board.

The Board provides a range of financial and non-financial supports to facilitate the establishment, development and growth of small businesses in County Kilkenny. The Board in particular is keen to improve the entrepreneurial environment, as well as the viability and management development capability of small businesses. The Board is now firmly established as the first point of contact for small businesses, offering a wide range of customised supports from basic information and advice through to grant-aid.

The Board approved financial assistance totalling circa €425,000 to an additional 28 business projects in 2006. These projects have the potential to create an additional 60 full-time jobs when fully operational. This brings the total number of jobs created by the Board in the last 10 years to almost 1,000, at a cost per job of just over €6,500, which represents excellent value for EU and Exchequer funding. A total of over 600 people participated in almost 50 training, management development and mentoring programmes organised and delivered by the Board in 2006. These ranged from 'Start Your Own Business' Training Courses through to 'Computerised Accounts' Training to 'Financial Training' and 'Sales & Marketing' Programmes for Business Owners. The Board in conjunction with Kilkenny County Council also signed local agreements with community groups in Callan for the retention of a Business Development Executive to help the local community there prepare and implement a plan of locally based enterprise actions.