News Release Page Title

19 January 2000

 OFFICIAL OPENING OF £319,000 EXTENSION TO LISNASKEA BUSINESS COMPLEX

The Minister for Social Development, Nigel Dodds, MLA today attended the official opening of a £319,000 extension to the Lisnaskea Business Complex.

Congratulating the local community for securing the extension to the complex Mr Dodds said: "The provision of affordable workspace is vital for the creation of local employment. The fact that the original centre has been fully occupied since it opened, is an indication of the potential for further job creation in Lisnaskea. Community regeneration is a key priority of my department. This project is an example of how local communities working in partnership with government, the European Union and IFI can provide the stimulus for economic and social regeneration."

Continuing, Mr Dodds said: "Local businesses creating local employment is at the core of regeneration. Lisnaskea Community Development Association’s decision to go ahead with the original building, which received £232,000 government funding, has been fully justified. It has not only enabled business start - ups, it has also allowed businesses to grow and move to purpose built premises elsewhere. The extension will provide an additional six units for expanding businesses."

Concluding, Mr Dodds also acknowledged the major contribution of the European Union Structural funds which provided a substantial grant to the extension project through the Community Economic Development Measure of the INTERREG Programme. Lisnaskea Community Enterprises LTD met the remainder of the development costs.

 

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. The Lisnaskea Community Development Association is officially opening the Lisnaskea Business Complex on Wednesday 19th January at 11.30am.
  2. The extension is 7,500 sq. ft of workspace and is funded from the Community Economic Development (CED) measure of the EU’s Interreg Programme. The EU contribution amounts to £247,500. The group has provided the balance of the funding required.
  3. The local group’s first project was under the CRISP programme (Community Regeneration and Improvement Special Programme). This provided the group with £464,000 for the first stage of the business complex. Government provided £232,255 and the International Fund for Ireland provided the remainder.
  4. The complex provides space for emerging businesses and support for them locally.