The new Enterprise Centre in Tubbercurry is the centre of what’s hoped will become a major rural regeneration programme for the south Sligo town and its hinterland.
Over €82,000 has now been invested in the new centre which it’s hoped will have enough work to employ a part-time centre manager by the end of the year.
The investment is all part of the Rural Economic Development Zone which will be launched by the Rural Affairs Minister Heather Humphreys on Friday afternoon.
Sligo County Council outlined the details of what has been achieved as part of this pilot programme which was initially announced last September.
€196,000 has already been spent to set up this programme which got a grant of €150,000 with a further €50,000 coming from the County Council and the local community.
A meeting of the Ballymote Tubbercurry Municipal District heard yesterday that over €18,000 of the investment has gone into marketing, training and mentoring initiatives that local business can access at the local Enterprise Centre.
The centre is now based at the old headquarters of the Aurivo Co-Op in Tubbercurry and there are already two businesses in situ with more to follow.
The other major areas of investment as part of the REDZ programme is improving the appearance of the town through ‘urban enhancement’ plans – almost €38,000 has been invested in the new pedestrian link between Wolfe Tone Square and the Circular road and Councillors welcomed the fact it is at an advanced stage.
Another €15,000 of the money has been spent on pop-up tents for the benefit of all community groups.
The development of St. Brigits Hall and the completion an economic report on the future use of the disused railway line in the town are all part of the plans.
The new Cathaoirleach of the Ballymote Tubbercurry Municipal District Dara Mulvey spoke to me yesterday following the meeting welcoming the new programme and his hopes for improved broadband in the region:
€80k investment in Tubbercurry Centre expected to help create jobs
