Action Plan to stimulate Balbriggan economy launched.
Ed Hearne, Director Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development, Fingal CoCo, Luke Moriarty, President, Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce, Cllr Grainne Maguire, Cllr Tony Murphy, Paul Reid, Chief Executive, Fingal County Council, Sean Corrigan, CEO Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce
A broad ranging action plan “Stimulating the Balbriggan Economy” was launched today by Fingal County Council, in conjunction with Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce and local Councillors.
The plan looks at short-term initiatives and medium term proposals aimed at reinvigorating Balbriggan town centre, promoting tourism in the town and fostering long-term prosperity.
Speaking at the launch Paul Reid, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council said: “I welcome this plan and the actions therein which are designed to give a short-term boost to local economic prospects in Balbriggan and establish the conditions for longer-term growth. Balbriggan has the potential to be a vibrant and dynamic commercial hub and this plan, with the enthusiastic help of Balbriggan Chamber and Councillors aims to maximise this potential.”
Paul Reid, Chief Executive, Fingal County Council, Cllr Grainne Maguire, Luke Moriarty, President, Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce, Edel McGuinness, EMG Property Consultants, Sean Corrigan, CEO Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce, Ed Hearne, Director Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development, Fingal CoCo, Chris Harmon, Country Crest and Cllr Tony Murphy(at front)
Fingal County Council is undertaking a number of short-term initiatives to be delivered with Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce aimed at stimulating the local economy. The first element of this is a pilot initiative entitled Balbriggan Town Shop Front Enhancement Grant Scheme 2016 which will provide advice and financial assistance to business owners to improve shop fronts and commercial properties on the Main Street in Balbriggan. Grant funding of up to 75% of eligible costs is available to replace and renovate shop fronts or to paint shop fronts in the town centre.
The Council is now seeking expressions of interest from owners, lease holders or tenants of commercial properties in designated locations in Balbriggan Town Centre who wish to avail of the scheme. Business owners who are interested should send in their expression of interest request with the following simple message: “I am interested in availing of the shop front enhancement grant scheme” and specifying if it is for the shop front replacement scheme or the paint scheme or both. These should be sent to shopfrontscheme@fingal.ie on or before August 26, 2016.
Luke Moriarty, President, Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce, Cllr Grainne Maguire, Cllr Tony Murphy, Edel McGuinness, EMG Property Consultants, Sean Corrigan, CEO Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce, Ed Hearne, Director Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development, Fingal CoCo, Chris Harmon, Country Crest, and Paul Reid, Chief Executive, Fingal County Council
Ed Hearne, Director of Economic Enterprise and Tourism Development with Fingal County Council, said: “This initiative is part of an overall suite of measures aimed at reinvigorating Balbriggan Town Centre and making it a vibrant retail and commercial centre which the Council, has been working in partnership with Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce. The expression of interest will provide us with the information that will help us match the level of interest in this pilot initiative with the level of financial resources the Council is making available.”
Local Councillors, Cllr Tony Murphy, Cllr Grainne Maguire and Cllr Malachy Quinn, in a joint statement said: “We welcome this Shop Front Enhancement Grant Scheme which has the scope to greatly improve the streetscape in Balbriggan and we will be promoting this among local businesses to maximise the positive potential of the scheme. We look forward to working with Fingal County Council, Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce and local Community groups in relation to the longer term aims of the action plan, with a view to delivering Balbriggan’s economic potential.”
Luke Moriarty, President, Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce, Ed Hearne, Director Economic, Enterprise and Tourism Development, Fingal CoCo, Cllr Tony Murphy, Edel McGuinness, EMG Property Consultants, Sean Corrigan, CEO Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce, Chris Harmon, Country Crest, Cllr Grainne Maguire and Paul Reid, Chief Executive, Fingal County Council