Minister Heather Humphreys tours Carrick-on-Shannon Business Campus

Minister Heather Humphreys, Minister for Rural and Community Development, last week visited the Carrick-on-Shannon Business Campus which has been acquired by Leitrim County Council, assisted by funding from the Rural Regeneration Development Fund.

On touring the Campus, the Minister had the opportunity to see this excellent facility spread over 112,000 sq. ft and currently home to Avant Money and its 200 strong workforce.

The Minister was briefed on Leitrim County Council’s plans to create a smart and effective workspace, of high quality fit out, suitable as an SME workspace for 150 occupants and aimed at firms of more than 10 employees.

The Council also plans to create a 3-year marketing and development programme to attract larger indigenous and FDI clients to the facility, ultimately aiming to generate an additional 350 new jobs in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Speaking in Carrick-on-Shannon the Minister said: “As Minister for Rural and Community Development, I am very pleased to provide funding of €7.2 million for the Carrick on Shannon Business Campus project from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, which is providing unprecedented levels of funding for significant capital projects located across the country.

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“The Fund is pivotal in delivering on the objectives of Our Rural Future, the Government’s 5 year policy for rural development, which sets out an ambitious blueprint for realising the enormous potential inherent in our rural towns, villages and communities.”

The Minister was also briefed on the Council’s plan to arrange for the management and operation of the Campus to be assigned to the Leitrim Economic Growth and Capital Development DAC; a Special Purpose Vehicle company already established by the Council.

This company will, in line with its objective to facilitate the economic development of the county, take on the leasehold of the facility in the coming weeks and will bring to the commercial market a range of desk-based office facilities aimed primarily at key employment sectors.

The targeted sectors will include financial, technological, professional, consumer business services or back-office markets through indigenous or foreign direct investment.

The Campus will also serve as a step-up space for growing enterprises within The Hive or other co-working or business centres.

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The Council working with the Company intends to establish an Advisory Board, with the necessary expertise, skills and know-how to assist and advise the Board of Directors in steering the campus to the successful delivery of its goals and objectives.

The overall objective for the initiative is to grow the employment from these primary sectors to 700 jobs in total with a potential economic boost of €65m per annum to the economy of the region.

In welcoming the Minister to the Business Campus, Chief Executive of Leitrim County Council, Lar Power said “Leitrim County Council truly appreciates the funding of €7.2m from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund which Minister Humphreys and her Department have made available towards this €9m project.

“The funding awarded is a firm commitment to support the ongoing efforts of the Local Authority to develop and improve our county and make it the best place it can be in which to live, work, invest and visit.

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“As well as sustaining existing jobs, the investment in this significant project will create further additional jobs, which will drive growth in rural employment and investment, not only in Leitrim, but in the wider region.

“This project will create opportunities for the youth of our county to live and work in their local communities.”

The Cathaoirleach of Leitrim County Council, Cllr Ita Reynolds said “Minister Heather Humphreys is very welcome to Leitrim to visit the Carrick Business Campus. The funding that has been awarded to this, and indeed other projects in Leitrim, through the Department of Rural and Community Development is supporting the delivery of key infrastructure that is having a significant impact on the growth of our county and which builds on our vision to make Leitrim an economically strong, creative and inclusive county.”