Three major regeneration projects in the Shannonside region have been granted almost €15 million euro today under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund.
The funds provide for work on three projects in Boyle, Carrick-on-Shannon, and Drumshanbo in Co Leitrim.
The project in Carrick-on-Shannon which has been allocated €7.2 million involves the purchase of the former MBNA site in the town with a view to developing an enterprise campus in the existing buildings.
It's intended to sustain the existing anchor tenant of 200 jobs, but will also add high quality fit out of SME workspace for another 150 occupants aimed at firms with 10 employees or more.
In Boyle €4.3 million euro is being granted for a new community library of 640 square metres on a key brownfield site beside the river in the centre of the town.
The library would sit beside the new development at the Royal Hotel, and will include meeting and event spaces, areas for technology and research, as well as workshop and creative spaces.
Funding of €2.8 million is being provided in Drumshanbo for developments linked to the Drumshanbo Food Hub.
The project will involve the building of a two-storey extension to the vacant BFN food factory premises near the centre of the town which will house 10 Food tech and innovation unit, as well as laboratory spaces and other facilities for existing tenants.
Sligo/Leitrim Deputy and Minister of State Frank Feighan says the site purchase in Carrick-on-Shannon presents huge opportunities for job creation across the region.
''This is a huge bonus for County Leitrim but also the region because it makes huge sense and this is great value for the tax payer and the people of Leitrim. I know the local authority will ensure they get more jobs for that site and I want to thank Lar Power and Leitrim County Council for having the initiative to secure this huge investment.''
