Cavan County Enterprise Fund has secured € 194,261 to develop a Business Park on the lands surrounding the Enterprise Centre in Blacklion.
Welcoming the announcement, West Cavan Councillor and Board Member of Cavan County Enterprise Board , John Paul Feeley has welcomed the funding as part of the € 3.064 million package under the Harnessing Natural Resources Project from INTEREG 4A.
‘This funding will transform the lands around the Enterprise Centre in Blacklion from a green field site into serviced plots of land ready for use to be sold or leased by the Cavan County Enterprise Fund for development for businesses.’
Blacklion Enterprise Centre was completed at a cost of € 600,000 with the aid of funding from ADM/CPA under the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation on the site of the former Customs Post in Blacklion. The building consists of five units and presently houses five businesses which provide ten jobs. The site also includes Blacklion Childcare Centre which opened in September 2010 and was completed at a cost of € 500,000.
‘There is a substantial amount of land around the Enterprise Centre. Whilst all of the units are not presently occupied, many proposals could not be accommodated as they did not fit with the existing businesses, this investment will open up the site to allow interested parties develop more purpose built units.’
The positive news is a clear indication of confidence in a positive future and a demonstration of far-sighted thinking by the Enterprise Board according to Councillor Feeley.
‘The economy is not in good shape at the present time but we have to believe that in the future, this country will progress again. Now is the time for state agencies such as the Enterprise Board to give a commitment to the future. The work of Vincent Reynolds, Chief Executive and his staff in Cavan County Enterprise Board and Eilish McLoughlin in the West Cavan/West Fermanagh Project are an indication of their commitment to the future.’
The fund, totally € 3.064554 million will support 26 projects across counties Cavan, Leitrim and Fermanagh and involves a partnership between Cavan and Leitrim County Councils, Fermanagh District Council, Coillte, Inland Fisheries Ireland and other state agencies and draws from the work of various community groups. The funding is made up of 75% from the EU with the remaining 25% contributed by the Stormont Executive and the Irish Government. There is no local contribution to the various projects.