Portglenone project praised
Thursday, 23 October 2008
Pictured at the site of the new business centre in Clady, Portglenone.
SOCIAL Development Minister Margaret Ritchie welcomed the start of work on a new business centre in Clady near Portglenone on Tuesady, October 21.
The project is being supported with a major grant from her Department.
The Minister said: "This vital project will have a very positive social and economic impact in the area. It will provide accommodation for small business to set up in the area and it is expected that it will create up to twenty jobs.
“I am pleased that by working with Riverside Community Enterprises, the local community, and the other funders, my Department has been able to make this project happen. It provides the clearest possible demonstration of the real benefits that our support for communities like this can deliver.
“My Department has been working for almost twenty years with the International Fund for Ireland through the Community Regeneration Improvement Special Programme to support projects such as this in towns and villages throughout Northern Ireland."
The Minister added: "The project in Clady is one of the last of the 80 Community Regeneration Improvement Special Programme projects we have supported to be built and I think it is an excellent example of what the programme has been able to achieve."
The Project will involve the development of commercial and light industrial units on a green field site located at the junction of the Kilrea Road and Clady Road.
The scheme incorporates the development of a single storey building of approximately 10,000 square feet (990 sq m). The Department for Social Development has provided funding of up to £364,500 towards the overall cost of the building through the Community Regeneration Improvement Special Programme (CRISP).
John McDaid, Board member of the International Fund for Ireland, which also contributed £364,500 to the scheme said that the project was a wonderful example of how a community could strive to create a better future for everyone in the area, "I would like to congratulate Riverside Community Enterprises on the development of this much needed workspace. The group has shown great foresight, vision and commitment in the development of this project. It will enable the community to harness new business potential in the area, act as a catalyst for increased investment and stimulate growth of both new and established businesses," he said.
Mr McDaid added: "I would also like to thank our donors the United States, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand for their continued support without which we could not fund such vital projects."
Cllr Kate McEldowney, chairman of Magherafelt District Council also joined in the congratulations stating: "On behalf of Magherafelt District Council I would like to offer our best wishes to Riverside Community Enterprises on the development of the new workspace facility in the Clady area.
“We congratulate the local community on the tremendous work which they have done to date on the project. Magherafelt District Council recognised the potential of the project and agreed to contribute £60,000 to the cost of this excellent facility. We are confident that the new centre will become a focal point of the local community and create much needed employment in the local area."
Ballymena Mayor Councillor Maurice Mills expressed his congratulations to Riverside Community Enterprises on the development of new workspace provision within the Clady, Portglenone area.
He welcomed the provision of increased employment opportunities for the local community, and much needed workspace accommodation for new micro businesses and developing SME's, whose growth, development, competitiveness and entrepreneurial skills will continue to strengthen the economic infrastructure of both the Ballymena and Magherafelt Council areas.
PJ McLoughlin, Chairman of Riverside Community Enterprises Ltd, which is contributing in excess of £23,000 to the scheme, said he was delighted the project was finally underway and looked forward to its completion in May 2009.
“Our objective was to generate employment opportunities in the Clady, Inishrush and Portglenone areas and given the current economic climate, projects of this nature have a key role to play at this time," he said.
