An Enterprise Plan directing €18.9 million towards projects that will support job creation in Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon has been published this week.
There have been a total of nine projects approved for funding in the West Regional Enterprise plan, which aim to support important and emerging sectors in the area.
The government has developed 9 Regional Enterprise Plans directing how up to €180 million in regional investment funds will be spent creating new jobs and helping companies grow.
The plan for Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon was launched by Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar this week.
“The government is committed to balanced regional development, meaning we are constantly looking at ways to bring jobs and prosperity to every part of the country,” Leo Varadkar said.
“We’ve developed 9, region-specific plans, which will each look at how best to drive investment and create long-term, sustainable jobs in each of the areas they cover.”
He said that the plan for Galway examines strengthening existing sectors such as Life Sciences, AgTech and Food, as well as the cultural and creative sectors.
It will also look at how to realise the potential of new and emerging industries such as renewable energy.
“I believe the West has the potential to become a renewable energy powerhouse, fulfilling Ireland’s electricity needs and also some of Europe’s too,” the Tánaiste said.
The plans were developed by a steering committee chaired by a senior member of the private sector, and with representative of multiple state agencies, colleges, and others.
Evelyn O’Toole, Chair of the West Regional Steering Committee said that it resulted from “deep and engaged” consultation across the region.
“I am very proud of the finished product which is ambitious and inclusive of the variety of strengthens of the West.”
The West Regional Enterprise Plan to 2024 can be view online here.
The nine projects allocated €18.9 million in funding across the three counties are:
| Project | REDF funding | RETS funding | Project description |
| BIA Innovator Campus CLG | €2,466,148 | n/a | Workspace for a dynamic regional food and drink innovation center. |
| Galway City Innovation District CLG | €2,487,400 | n/a | Co-working and event space for technology and MedTech scale-up companies. |
| Midc Páirc Na Mara | €2,000,000 | n/a | Development of a Marine Innovation and Development Centre (MIDC). |
| The Burren Lowlands CLG | €182,786 | n/a | An enterprise platform to provide a focal point to create and attract additional jobs to this area. |
| Comhoibriú CLG | €2,694,833 | n/a | Centre of Excellence providing co-working space, incubation, accelerator programmes, training and outreach services to the creative sector |
| Galway City Innovation District (GCID) | €1,205,833 | n/a | New space to help export oriented fast-growth tech companies. |
| Galway Technology Centre DAC | €4,023,400 | n/a | Expansion of the Centre and to develop ‘Academy West’ to assist scaling enterprise across the West. |
| SCCUL Enterprises CLG | €1,239,408 | n/a | Enterprise centre helping Start-ups, SMEs and Social Enterprise across the region including scaling and expanding their ‘Bizmentors’ programme. |
| Grow Remote CLG | €449,442 | n/a | Fostering community chapters of remote workers using their ChangeX platform to provide education and assistance to hubs. |
| Galway City Innovation District (Bowling Green) | n/a | €285,858 | Enhancements to the proposed development at the Warehouse building to mitigate the issues that COVID-19 has caused for shared workspaces. Additions include higher specification ventilation system, improved furniture and shared spaces as well as 2 additional employees. Funding was sought for a Return to Work Manager and a Technical Manager, Consultancy, Promotional expenses, Structural changes to improve access to the facility with COVID-19 in mind, including improved HVAC systems and ventilation, partitions and hot desk facilities. |
| Galway Technology Centre | n/a | €238,584 | This development of the Cube provides the appropriate space within a section of the GTC for remote, hybrid and blended workers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These changes will assist existing and new tenants of the GTC. Funding is for Promotion, Consultancy to project manage the rapid build and for Renovation and fit out costs |
| BIA Innovator Campus CLG | n/a | €1,645,552 | Funding for this project is mainly sought for Building and Equipment fit out works to expand the originally approved 1,008 sq.m. centre by 242 sq.m. For the existing centre funding is also sought to improve COVID-19 ventilation systems, enhanced systems, showcasing manufacturing 4.0 practices and additional entrepreneurship programmes and assistance. This funding will help the centre in its requirement to provide not only a COVID safe environment and best practice for its clients and a safe place from where to host its training programs. |
| Total | €16,729,249 | €2,169,994 | TOTAL FUNDING: €18,889,243 |
