€100,000 grants boost for enterprise centre

Two Government ministers visited North Clare last week, announcing a grant of nearly €100,000 for the further development of the Ennistymon Enterprise Centre.

In April sunshine, Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Pat Carey TD, along with Minister for Defence and Clare TD Tony Killeen, met with representatives of Project Ennistymon on Friday.
Minister Carey, joined by Minister Killeen, announced a Leader grant of €94,000 for the centre to convert some of the units to meet demand in the area.
Minister Carey congratulated Project Ennistymon on their foresight to see the need to change the usage of units from light industrial to office space in response to changes in the market place and to stimulate job creation in North Clare.
“The conversion will cover changing one unit into a training centre to cater for the demand for training in the area. This demand has increased in the last 12 months as people look to upskill and retrain themselves,” explained Sharon Malone, business development manager at Project Ennistymon.
“Another light industrial unit will also be converted into upstairs and downstairs office space, fitted out with light, heat and carpets, a turnkey solution ready to be occupied. The conversion will increase the choices available to those in the area looking to set up in business or looking to move into leased space,” she continued.
Four schools from the locality were at the centre to display community-based projects, including a project on the feasibility of having a youth café in Ennistymon from Ennistymon CBS students, a mini company based on a study of the unique shop fronts in the town shown by Scoil Mhuire pupils, a study of wildlife in the area and preserving it from the local vocational school and a pictorial tour around the buildings of Ennistymon from Mól an Oige National School.
“The minister, a former teacher, spent lots of time with the students, showing great interest in the projects and offering the benefit of his experience. He was very impressed with the projects and the high standards applied and the ability of the students to present the projects. The future for the centre looks bright if these students continue in their enterprising ways,” Ms Malone concluded.