A fund of €1 million has been revealed to link digital hubs pushing enterprise and innovation along the west coast.
Galway East TD Seán Canney announced the new fund for digital hubs at the Ballinasloe Enterprise Centre this week.
This funding will be used to create a network of Enterprise Hubs and Digital Spaces along the western seaboard, from Kerry to Donegal.
This area forms the Atlantic Economic Corridor which combines the economic hubs and catchments of the region to attract investment, support job creation and improve the quality of life for those who live there.
This development of the Atlantic Economic Corridor Hub Network is a flagship project in the Western Development Commission’s new five-year Strategy.
Speaking at the launch, Deputy Canney said that economic strategies such as this one are an attempt to ensure a balanced regional growth in the economy.
“The initiative will help to attract more people and more investment to the western part of Ireland, which is a vibrant area of innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as being a great place to live.”
“This project builds on the excellent work already being carried out in the region by enterprise and innovation hubs in the private, public and social enterprise sectors,” Seán Canney added.
The WDC will assist these digital hubs in forming a collaborative network to better support business development and job creation in the region.
“The hub network will also provide a social dividend by making the hubs available to communities and those who may be economically, socially or educationally disadvantaged,” Deputy Canney said.
The funding for this initiative is being made available through the Dormant Accounts Fund, and comes on top of half a million already given by the Department of Rural and Community Development to the WDC this year.
“The Western Region can provide an unrivaled quality of life, opportunities for innovation and enterprise, and can compete on the national and international stage.”
“This is an exciting time to live and work in the West of Ireland.”
