Successful Leitrim Businesses will be sharing their story in Dublin at an event organised by Leitrim County Council, Local Enterprise Office and Dublin based Leitrim business people on May 12th in the InterContinental Hotel, Ballsbridge from 5.30pm - 8.00pm. See Event Programme here or view the event programme at
https://vimeo.com/165576460
The event will include a short presentation on investment options in Leitrim, a chance to meet Leitrim based business operating successfully in Leitrim and to discuss your business idea/proposal with agencies in Leitrim under the one roof. The event will commence with light refreshments at 5.30pm and will then offer an opportunity to hear from Frank Curran, CE of Leitrim County Council on recent economic and tourism developments in the County followed by an input from Padraic White, former head of IDA Ireland and current chairperson of Leitrim Recreation Forum on the potential for investing in Leitrim.
Attendees will get the opportunity to hear directly from businesses operating successfully in Leitrim including VistaMed (www.vistamed.net) , Cora Systems (www.corasystems.com) both of whom are currently recruiting and the SHED Distillery based in the Food Hub in Drumshanbo, (thesheddistillery.com).
The MC for the event is well known journalist and Leitrim native Carole Coleman, who has been actively working with Leitrim County Council along with other Leitrim natives in business in Dublin to help get the message out that Leitrim is open for business.
A key element of the evening is the opportunity to meet with agency support staff from the Planning Department of Leitrim County Council, Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Office, Leitrim Development Company and others who will be there to discuss potential business start-up or relocation ideas.
There will be stands on business space solutions such as the Hive, Food Hub, ManorHub and Carrick Business Campus which is a state of the art facility currently part-occupied by AvantCard. A number of Leitrim business who are currently recruiting will also be in attendance as will local food and creative business showcasing the range of product on offer from Leitrim.
Leitrim has recently established a Renewable Energy Group and experts in forestry, biomass and wind energy will be present to take questions on the potential for investment in this sector.
if you wish to reserve a place at this event, please contact Nollaig Whyte, Economic Development Officer on nwhyte@leitrimcoco.ie or 071 9650400.
The European Union has
approved a new ERNACT network project, worth €1.8 million, aimed at transferring
innovative energy solutions for housing and public infrastructure developed
in Scandinavia and Atlantic Canada to Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The project is led by Ernact Networks in Donegal and the Irish partners are Donegal County Council, Leitrim County Council and Derry and Strabane Councils.
The project will be carried out
with financial support from the European Union’s Northern Periphery and Artic Programme
2014-2020. This programme provides funding
and support to organisations in the Northern part of Europe - including Ireland
and Northern Ireland - wishing to transfer successful public service
innovations between countries and regions.
The SECURE
project
The main
objective of the innovation project SECURE
– Smarter Energy Communities in Northern and Arctic Regions is to study, transfer and pilot new solutions for improving energy
efficiency and renewable sources in public housing, lighting and public
Carrick on Shannon is now part of a network of 14 towns in the Republic of Ireland to be awarded Purple Flag Status. Purple Flag is the international accreditation for town centres in the evening and at night from 5pm to 5am. Like a Blue Flag, centres that achieve the required standards of 30 criteria can fly the flag. Purple Flag destinations distinguish themselves by being Vibrant and Well-Managed. The network of Purple Flag towns meet twice a year to share good practice and also highlight to agencies such as Failte Ireland the good work being done in these towns by Councils, Chamber, Businesses, Community and sporting organisations.
Carrick on Shannon received its award in November 2015 and is already busy preparing for its annual renewal in June 2016. As part of the renewal process, a number of actions must be put in place and some of these have already been achieved including improvement works to the Streetscape of Bridge Street, completion of a lighting assessment of the town, drawing up a Visitors Charter and installing street counters.
In April of this year a second Public Perceptions Survey will be carried out with residents and visitors alike to see again how people feel about the town and suggestions for on-going improvements to the town across day and night time activity. So watch out for a chance to participate in the coming weeks.
The Purple Flag is all about improving the experience you have of the town so we will be delighted to get your views.
At the recent "Manor Summit" held in the Bee Park Centre on February 18th last, four teams were established to look at projects for 2016 under the following four headings:
- Culture and Creativity
- Community and Leisure
- Heritage and Tourism
- Town Planning and Development
Over 80 people attended the event on February 18th. Patsy McShane spoke about the Workspace Model from Draperstown which involves reinvesting profits from social enterprises in several locations back into Draperstown. A presentation on the Action Plan for Manorhamilton Regional Economic Development Zone (REDZ) "To the Waters and the Wild" was also used to stimulate discussion in the four workshops.
Each workshop came up with 3-4 priorities to be actioned during 2016.
The "Manor Summit" will take place in the Bee Park Community Centre on Thursday, February 18th next from 7pm - 9.30pm. The summit has emerged from six months work by Leitrim County Council in conjunction with local businesses, organisations and community groups. The night will consist of short, insightful presentations on topics followed by workshops. All interested parties are invited to attend and participate.
In 2015, as part of the revitalisation measures for rural areas, a pilot programme called "REDZ" or (Regional Economic Development Zones) was announced. Rural Ireland was divided into a number of REDZ areas - areas where a particular town was seen as the key economic driver for a broader area. Funding was made available based on the size of the main town so Manorhamilton REDZ was in the lowest funding category. Locally, some funding was secured by Leitrim County Council in the national programme for the Mnaorhamilton REDZ area in October 2015. The Manorhamilton REDZ area covers a wide rural area including Manorhamilton, Glenfarne, Drumkeerin, Rossinver and Dowra/Blacklion.
To reserve your place at this event: email mreynolds@leitrimcoco.ie