Ballykeel business centre goes from strength to strength

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has hailed Ballykeel Business Centre in Ballymena as a major success story for the town.

She was speaking as she formally opened a 16 unit extension to the Centre at a cost of almost £744,000. There are now 26 fully occupied units at the Centre, employing around 70 people plus volunteers. Ballykeel Business Development Limited (BBDL) was set up in 2002 to promote employment through affordable workspace units and business support services for start-up and established businesses in the local area.

The Minister said: “The success of Ballykeel Business Centre is demonstrated by the completion of this ambitious new extension. For all the Units to already be fully occupied reflects its impact in encouraging economic regeneration in the area.

The extension to the Business Centre was funded by DSD (£271,000) the International Fund for Ireland (£250,000), Ballymena Strategy Partnership (£172,500), Ballymena Borough Council (£35,000) and BBDL (£15,000).

Margaret Ritchie continued: “My Department has provided in excess of £270,000 funding for the extension through the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy, which aims to improve the quality of life for people in our most deprived communities. We are giving local people the opportunity and confidence to implement their business ideas here at Ballykeel.”

Speaking at the launch, Denis Rooney, Chairman of the International Fund for Ireland, which contributed not only £250,000 to the new extension but £300,000 to the development of the original business units, said that the project was a wonderful example of how a community could strive to create a better future for its area: "The drive and vision shown by Ballykeel Business Development Limited is proof that this community wants to move forward and create a better, shared future for its area. The new facilities are about more than attracting new businesses, they are also about strengthening and underpinning community life for years to come. Everyone involved in this project is to be congratulated for their vision for the area. I am delighted to be able to give our wholehearted support to this scheme."

Chairman of Ballymena Strategy Partnership, Lexie Scott, said: “Ballymena Strategy Partnership is delighted to be associated with this new phase of workspace development. Business & entrepreneurial activity now quite literally sits at the heart of the Ballykeel community. The speed at which the units have been snapped up is indicative of the pace of change within this area over the last five years. New businesses starting up, and businesses expanding, signal a growth in the economy and a changing mood in Northern Ireland. Peace and stability are undoubtedly key drivers in this change and it is significant that Peace funding has been a contributor to this initiative.”

Ballymena Mayor Councillor Maurice Mills commented: “Providing high quality, affordable workspace within the Ballymena Borough is a key objective for economic growth and Ballymena Borough Council is keen to support organisations such as Ballykeel Business Development Limited to achieve this goal.”

Robert Heron, Chair of Ballykeel Business Centre added: “BBDL’s success over the past year has been achieved through the dedication of company directors and the teamwork of company staff and tenants, whom I feel have set up a positive and beneficial role in the local area.

“As a company, Ballykeel Business Development is continually planning ahead and I am sure I speak for all the directors also, look forward to another successful year at Ballykeel Business Centre.”

Notes to Editors:

1.Ballykeel Business Centre was officially opened in June 2002 with a remit ‘to contribute to the economic development, regeneration and job creation – in particular through supporting new and existing businesses – in the ward of Ballykeel’. Ballykeel Business Development Ltd’s (BBDL) overall purpose is to facilitate, stimulate and promote the establishment, growth and profitability of small-to-medium sized businesses in the Ballykeel area. BBDL now manages 1,736 square metres of workspace at Ballykeel. The units are 100% let. BBDL is a non-profit taking company. Its Board is drawn from the local community, Councillors and the business sector.

2. Funding for the new extension was provided by the Department for Social Development, the International Fund for Ireland and the Local Strategy Partnership as follows:

• £271,000 DSD
• £250,000 IFI
• £172,500 LSP
• £ 35,000 BBC
• £ 15,000 BBDL

3. 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. It initially targeted 32 primary neighbourhood renewal areas across Northern Ireland.

4. 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

5. The International Fund for Ireland is an international organisation established by the Irish and British Governments 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, Australia and New Zealand. Since its inception, the Fund has committed more than £576m/EUR 849m to a wide variety of projects in Northern Ireland and the border counties.

The Fund’s budget for 2007 is £21 million/ EUR 31 million. Funding priorities include grassroots level reconciliation and cross-community projects. In addition, the Fund seeks to address the root causes of deprivation in the most disadvantaged areas by using shared economic concerns as a platform for regeneration and cross-community activity. The Fund will also continue its pioneering work with children and young people throughout the North and border counties.

6. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office 028 9082 9078. Out of hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.