Ritchie welcomes start to £915,000 project in Clady, Portglenone

Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie today welcomed the start of work on a new business centre in Clady near Portglenone.

The project is being supported with a major grant from her Department.

The Minister said: “This vital project will have a very positive social and economic impact in the area. It will provide accommodation for small business to set up in the area and it is expected that it will create up to twenty jobs. I am pleased that by working with Riverside Community Enterprises, the local community, and the other funders, my Department has been able to make this project happen. It provides the clearest possible demonstration of the real benefits that our support for communities like this can deliver.”

The Minister added: “My Department has been working for almost twenty years with the International Fund for Ireland through the Community Regeneration Improvement Special Programme to support projects such as this in towns and villages throughout Northern Ireland. The project in Clady is one of the last of the eighty Community Regeneration Improvement Special Programme projects we have supported to be built and I think it is an excellent example of what the programme has been able to achieve.”

The Project will involve the development of commercial and light industrial units on a green field site located at the junction of the Kilrea Road and Clady Road. The scheme incorporates the development of a single storey building of approximately 10,000 square feet (990 sq m). The Department for Social Development has provided funding of up to £364,500 towards the overall cost of the building through the Community Regeneration Improvement Special Programme (CRISP).

John McDaid, Board member of the International Fund for Ireland, which also contributed £364,500 to the scheme said that the project was a wonderful example of how a community could strive to create a better future for everyone in the area.

He stated: “I would like to congratulate Riverside Community Enterprises on the development of this much needed workspace. The group has shown great foresight, vision and commitment in the development of this project. It will enable the community to harness new business potential in the area, act as a catalyst for increased investment and stimulate growth of both new and established businesses.

“I would also like to thank our donors the United States, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand for their continued support without which we could not fund such vital projects.”

Cllr Kate McEldowney, chairman of Magherafelt District Council also joined in the congratulations stating: “On behalf of Magherafelt District Council I would like to offer our best wishes to Riverside Community Enterprises on the development of the new workspace facility in the Clady area. We congratulate the local community on the tremendous work which they have done to date on the project. Magherafelt District Council recognised the potential of the project and agreed to contribute £60,000 to the cost of this excellent facility. We are confident that the new centre will become a focal point of the local community and create much needed employment in the local area."

Ballymena Mayor Councillor Maurice Mills expressed his congratulations to Riverside Community Enterprises on the development of new workspace provision within the Clady, Portglenone area.

He welcomed the provision of increased employment opportunities for the local community, and much needed workspace accommodation for new micro businesses and developing SME’s, whose growth, development, competitiveness and entrepreneurial skills will continue to strengthen the economic infrastructure of both the Ballymena and Magherafelt Council areas.

PJ McLoughlin, Chairman of Riverside Community Enterprises Ltd, which is contributing in excess of £23,000 to the scheme, said he was delighted the project was finally underway and looked forward to its completion in May 2009. He added: “Our objective was to generate employment opportunities in the Clady, Inishrush and Portglenone areas and given the current economic climate, projects of this nature have a key role to play at this time.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Clady is located in Magherafelt District council in the Valley Ward on the A42 main traffic route from Ballymena to Maghera. It is situated about 1 mile west of the river Bann and Portglenone.

2. Magherafelt district is recognised as being one of the most deprived areas of Northern Ireland being ranked 19th most deprived out of 26 districts. According to the ‘Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2005’, the valley ward is the third most deprived ward within the Magherafelt District.

3. Riverside Community Enterprises (RCE) was formally established in September 2001 covering both Clady and Inishrush areas, with the main aim to develop a building within the area for commercial and industrial letting. RCE is a spin off group from the neighbouring Portglenone Enterprise Group (PEG). PEG has a proven track record in delivering a successful community development scheme.

4. CRISP funding was originally approved in September 2002. The project promoter is the Riverside Community Enterprises. The CRISP programme is now closed.

5. The project will involve the development of commercial and light industrial units on a green field site located at the junction of the Kilrea road and Clady Road. The scheme incorporates the development of a single storey building of approximately 10,000 square feet (990sq m) which will comprise of 8 self contained ground floor workspace units.

6. The total cost of the core element of the project is £915,400 which will be funded as follows:

• Dept for Social Development £364,500
• International Fund for Ireland £364,500
• Magherafelt District Council £60,000
• Ballymena Borough Council £30,000
• Riverside Community Enterprises £23,400
• UCIT Loan of up to £73,000

7. The CRISP Programme provides support to communities to stimulate economic activity, encourage local partnerships and private sector investment. The overall funding package also provides assistance towards environmental improvements and development assistance.

8. Other towns in this council area that have received support under the CRISP programme include: Maghera, Tobermore, Desertmartin, Swatragh and Upperlands.

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