Minister Announces Extension To Ballykeel Business Centre

16 August 2006
MINISTER ANNOUNCES EXTENSION TO BALLYKEEL BUSINESS CENTRE
Social Development Minister David Hanson MP has formally announced a Ł740,000 extension to business units at Ballykeel Business Centre, Ballymena.
Ballykeel Business Development Limited (BBDL) was set up in 2002 to promote employment through the provision of affordable workspace units and business support services for start-up and established businesses in the local area.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister said: "The 16-unit extension to the business centre is testimony to the progress being made in Ballykeel, one of the 32 areas in Northern Ireland being targeted by Government to tackle disadvantage and deprivation.
"All eight units within the centre are occupied and currently employ around 40 people. As this number is set to double when the new units are completed, I believe Ballykeel Business Centre can act as a catalyst for local economic regeneration in this area.
"Through the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, the Department for Social Development has provided Ł300,000 of financial assistance for the extension.
"We have worked in close partnership with the International Fund for Ireland, Ballymena Borough Council, Ballymena Strategy Partnership, Ballymena Business Centre and of course, Ballykeel Business Development Limited. By investing in this project all of the funding partners recognise the essential role this centre plays in the economic and social life of the local community."
Chairman of the International Fund, Denis Rooney, said: "We are delighted to have been able to assist with the development of the original business units at Ballykeel as well as the planned extension of the business centre. The development of the business park in what is a neutral space will enable Ballykeel to continue to tackle social and commercial exclusion and marginalisation and contribute to the promotion of new business in the Ballymena area."
Arthur Crowe, Chair of the Ballymena Strategy Partnership (BSP) is proud of today's achievements at Ballykeel Business Centre. He said: "By attracting economic investment into Ballykeel, the new business units will create opportunities for local people to develop new skills and obtain employment. They are part of a thriving renewal process, which has led to new and innovative projects emerging alongside a reinvigorated community base. The membership of BSP is proud to have assisted and wish the project promoters success in their new venture."
At the event, Minister Hanson also welcomed the national judging panel from the Department of Trade and Industry's Enterprising Britain Award 2006. BBDL won the regional heat, which was organised by Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI). Enterprising Britain aims to identify enterprise champions: places that have created jobs, brought communities together and made a real difference to local businesses and local people. The judging panel are visiting the centre today as part of the overall assessment process for the national award.
Mr Hanson said: "BBDL is indeed a worthy regional winner of Enterprising Britain 2006. I am confident that BBDL's creative approach to supporting and promoting enterprise, endorsed by Invest NI during the regional heats, will impress the judges and I wish the directors well in the national finals in September."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
1. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy 'People and Place' was published in June 2003 to close the gap between the quality of life for people in the most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of society.
2. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy has four interlinking strategic objectives:

Community Renewal - to develop confident communities that are able and committed to improving the quality of life in their areas.

Economic Renewal - to develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider urban economy.

Social Renewal - to improve social conditions for the people who live in the most deprived neighbourhoods through better co-ordinated public services and the creation of safer environments.

Physical Renewal - to help create attractive, safe and sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods.

3. Ballykeel Business Development Limited (BBDL) was set up in 2002. The original project was funded by the International Fund for Ireland, the Department of Environment and Ballymena Borough Council with funding secured for the new extension by the Department of Social Development, the International Fund for Ireland and the Local Strategy Partnership.
4. It currently manages 800 square metres of workspace at Ballykeel. All of the eight units are fully let.
5. BBDL is a non-profit taking company. Its Board is drawn from the local community, Councillors and the business sector.
6. The extension project will provide a further 936 square metres of workspace in a total of 16 new units adjoining the existing units. It is expected that the units will be ready for occupation early in 2007.
7. The Enterprising Britain Award is run by the Department for Trade and Industry's Small Business Service to identify places which have driven enterprise forward to improve and encourage economic prospects in their area. BBDL was selected by the Invest NI judging panel as one of 12 regional finalists. The overall winner will be announced in London on 14 September 2006 who will go on to represent the UK in the European Enterprise Awards in December 2006.
8. The International Fund for Ireland is an international organisation established by the British and Irish Government in 1986 with the objectives of promoting economic and social advance and of encouraging contact, dialogue and reconciliation between unionists and nationalists throughout Ireland. Contributors to the Fund are the United States, the European Union, Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

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