27 September 2002
BALLYGAWLEY COMMUNITY GETS £1MILLION BOOST
A £1million project bringing new commercial, housing and social facilities to the County Tyrone town of Ballygawley was officially opened today by the Minister for Social Development, Nigel Dodds MP MLA, and the Chairman of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), William T. McCarter.
Funded jointly by the Department and the IFI under the Community Regeneration Improvement Special Programme (CRISP), the initiative was also supported by Dungannon and South Tyrone Council, the Rural Community Network and the South Tyrone Area Partnership.
Under the lead of Ballygawley Area Development Association the project covers two sites - one on Church Street providing three retail units, two apartments and office accommodation and the other off Main Street providing two commercial units, three apartments and community space, all of which are currently fully let.
The Minister said: "This major project addresses the needs of Ballygawley at a number of different levels. It provides units for new and expanding businesses; it accommodates a playgroup and after schools club; it creates a neutral meeting place for the use of all residents and it introduces modern flats which may well encourage young people to stay in the town.
"I commend the Development Association on their commitment and hard work over a number of years to bring this vision into reality."
Mr McCarter said: "We are delighted with the outcome of this project. For over a decade CRISP has played a central role in stimulating social and economic regeneration of disadvantaged towns and villages throughout Northern Ireland.
"The Ballygawley Area Development Association is to be congratulated on the completion of this excellent project which I am sure will stimulate further regeneration within the village and surrounding area."
Jim Maye, Chairman of Ballygawley Area Development Association added:
"We wish to express our sincere gratitude to the International Fund for Ireland, the Department for Social Development, the Rural Community Network (Millennium Halls), Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council, the South Tyrone Area Partnership and all other agencies and individuals who supported the realisation of the CRISP project which has provided redevelopment and new facilities in the town of Ballygawley.
"The final phase of the scheme, environmental improvements on Main Street and Church Street, to upgrade the town centre will commence shortly."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The Community Regeneration and Improvement Special Programme (CRISP) is jointly funded by the Department for Social Development and the IFI under the Disadvantaged Areas Initiative providing funding for community economic development projects in disadvantaged areas.
- DSD has contributed £347,600 to the CRISP project.
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