>11 May 2000
NEW £0.5 MILLION BUSINESS CENTRE FOR BELLAGHY
The Permanent Secretary for the Department for Social Development, John Hunter, today officially opened a new Business Centre in Bellaghy, Co Londonderry.
Funded under the CRISP programme the Old School Business Centre provides space for a library, a credit union, craft and industrial units, and 3 flats.
Opening the new Centre Mr Hunter stressed the important role played by local people in community regeneration projects: "Regeneration is about more than just buildings it is about people. I am particularly pleased to see that the project has attracted tenants from the educational, business and banking sectors. Not only has the project helped to attract these important services to Bellaghy but it is also providing jobs for the local community."
Mr Hunter also paid tribute to the dedication of the voluntary sector in helping to keep communities together and recognised the important links between the new centre and the nearby Bawn, which the DOE has restored as a visitor and educational attraction.
The project, which was jointly funded by the Department for Social Development and the International Fund for Ireland, also received financial support from the National
Lottery Charities Board, Magherafelt District Council and the Magherafelt Area Partnership Board.
Speaking at the event International Fund for Ireland Board Member Eamon Hanna said: "We are delighted to be able to support the Old School Centre project in Bellaghy which has stimulated economic activity, removed dereliction, physically upgraded the village and helped to address the issue of cross community contact and reconciliation."
NOTE TO EDITORS:
- The Community Regeneration and Improvement Special Programme (CRISP) which is jointly funded by the Department and the International Fund for Ireland provides funding for community-led property redevelopment in designated towns and villages of less than 10,000 population and also for environmental improvements. The Old School Business Centre is Bellaghy Development Association's core project under CRISP. The new building replaced the former National School on the site.
- The new property has 8,000 square feet of floorspace and was designed by John Dawson Architects, Magherafelt.