Dundalk training centre gets €4.5m
THERE was a broad welcome for the €5.6m in ‘ border funding’ announced in the last week for four unique Louth projects.
The Mill Enterprise Hub, Creative Spark, DKIT, and the LMETB were all successful applicants in the Border Enterprise Development Fund 2020.
The most significant funding was for the new Advanced Manufacturing & Technology Training Centre of Excellence in Dundalk, which has been approved for €4.5m funding through the Border Enterprise Development Fund today.
O’Dowd said “The North East will face significant uncertainty and economic challenges as we see the stark effects of the UKs withdrawal from EU at firsthand. The monies announced today will certainly help our local SMEs to become more resilient and face the many challenges that Covid and Brexit have presented including strengthening our Advanced Manufacturing skills which will be vital in the years ahead.
‘I would like to congratulate all of the successful projects and look forward to seeing the plans advance over the coming months.’
Louth Meath ETB was awarded €4,499,829 for the establishment of the Advanced Manufacturing & Technology Training Centre of Excellence.
It is proposed that the Advanced Manufacturing and Technology Training Centre of Excellence will be located in Unit B, in the Xerox Technology Park, Dundalk.
The premises will consist of 55,772 square feet and will have a flexible, technologically-oriented environment that is safe, healthy, comfortable, aesthetically-pleasing and accessible.
The premises are owned by the IDA and LMETB will enter into a 20 year lease with a break at year 10 on a full repair and insuring basis (FRI). The annual rent will equate to €8.10 per sq ft per annum totalling €451,753.20 per annum excl VAT. The annual rent will be reviewed every five years and will be linked to the Consumer Price Index.
A spokesman for the LMETB said: ‘ This project proposes to make a major positive economic and social impact on companies, in the border region. It is estimated that direct and indirect employment arising from the project will create 2,569 jobs, will see an additional direct expenditure of €14,895,496 in the border region and will provide relevant and effective advanced manufacturing skills training courses to 1,608, learners.’
He added: ‘ The centre is expected to play a key role in developing curricula and innovative delivery models that address the skills needs in the high value manufacturing and technology sectors.’
‘ This project provides a key solution to develop the needs for advanced manufacturing technology implementation in industry, bringing them to world class industry standards. This project will enable industry to rethink their manufacturing support and develop new models to deliver them. The project has the potential to have a national as well as regional impact. The operational costs of the program on an ongoing basis will be covered by Solas. It is imperative that the solutions here are aligned to industry needs and establishment of a strong industry advisory panel is critical to driving the agenda.
A total of € 587,600 was awarded for The Mill Enterprise Hub, Drogheda.
Louth County Council’s primary partner in this project is Drogheda Enterprise Centre CLG t/a The Mill Enterprise Hub (The Mill).
This project, titled Drogheda Digital Innovation Hub (DDIH) is designed to encourage high-potential future oriented tech projects seeking to start and grow, to locate in the greater Drogheda/ North East region.
‘ The project aims to foster an environment to facilitate these businesses, to succeed in the region, through the provision of a bespoke and affordable co-working space in Drogheda town centre complemented with tailored management and mentoring support to facilitate their growth and export potential.’
This project is an opportunity to target ‘post- Covid’ commuters, those seeking a career change from employee (commuter) to entrepreneur (in the region) and the ‘Brexit opportunity’ to target UK businesses seeking an EU home will add to the project’s success. It is also an opportunity to attract many technology start-ups located outside the region due to the lack of viable property solutions in the Border/NE/ Dundalk region.