Ennis has been selected as one of 17 Irish towns and cities eligible to benefit under a new urban renewal funding scheme.
The Clare County Capital has been named among the locations included under the Designated Urban Centres Grants Scheme 2014 – 2020, announced by Government in July, which will enable investments in Irish urban centres to the order of €80 million for the period 2014-2020.
The Scheme will involve European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) funding of approximately €40 million and matching funding from the relevant local authorities.
“Ennis has in recent years been rejuvenated, particularly the wider town centre area thanks to ongoing investment from Clare County Council with the support of the local business community. With projects such as the West Clare Greenway and proposed redevelopment of the Market area, it is clear there is a solid commitment to making Ennis an attractive and vibrant location to live and work in, as well as visit,” commented Senator Tony Mulcahy.
“This grant scheme will provide grant assistance to 17 towns and cities, including Ennis, whose projects address, in an integrated way, the various social, economic, environmental challenges facing them.
A central aim is to support and complement efforts to ensure that the cities and towns maximise their potential, and to complement earlier investments. It represents a clear opportunity for Clare County Council and its partners to consider investments in new and existing projects,” he added.
Ennis is included in the Designated Urban Centres Grants Scheme 2014 – 2020 along with Cork, Dublin, Galway, Dundalk, Kilkenny, Killarney, Letterkenny, Limerick, Sligo, Athlone, Mallow, Mullingar, Tralee, Tullamore, Waterford and Wexford.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.