It was a good day for local enterprise offices in Leitrim, Longford and Roscommon today with over €1.6m funding provided for various projects in the region.
1.3million euro was allocated for a new food hub in Lanesboro/Ballyleague.
Minister for Business Heather Humphreys confirmed the news, which will see an overall investment of approximately 4.5million euro going towards the project.
Welcoming the announcement, Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council, Micheál Carrigy, thanked all those involved in developing the concept and business plan for the food hub. He said it reconfirms the Government's support for rural development. Micheál said "This funding is an important first step in addressing the job losses resulting from ESB's announcement of the closure of the Lough Ree power plant and will support Bord na Móna's transition from Brown to Green."
The proposed food hub in Lanesboro will support the commercialisation of Bord na Móna product. It will deliver a food grade unit to meet the expected requirement for food processing space stemming from Bord na Móna's diversification strategy in the areas of medicinal herb production, birchwater harvesting and leaf and root vegetable production. This food harvesting and production side will form an important strand of Bord na Móna's future commercial development.
The facility will also provide food standard facilities for new incubation units and businesses leveraging off the BnM products and other food processing initiatives to facilitate existing and new food-based start-ups in the micro-food sector. 4,000 sq.ft of the proposed facility will be divided into 4 start-up spaces of circa 600 sq.ft to facilitate new start-ups with 800 sq. ft. set aside for a community kitchen.
Leitrim Design House, based at the Dock in Carrick-on-Shannon, is to receive €371,000 in funding for job creation in the next three years.
The money has been allocated by the Regional Enterprise Development Fund, which is designed to support projects that support job creation.
Michael Nevin, Chair of LEO in Longford, was a guest in studio with MaryClaire this afternoon on Let's Talk to discuss the project while Joe Lowe of Leitrim LEO also spoke about their funding boost
