Council’s US base cost ¤20k this year

SLIGO County Council has spent ¤20,000 this year on a US base for Irish businesses.

Councillor Keith Henry asked how much money was spent on the base in Providence at the December Council meeting.

Providence is a city south of Boston and the State of Rhode Island has a population of over 1 million.

Several western county councils came together to lease a building in Providence and formed the Ireland West International Trade Centre on the ground floor.

Cllr Henry was told that at least 14 Sligo businesses have benefited so far from the initiative, including an artist, a furniture exporter, a microbrewery, a logistics company and a website developer, among others.

Cllr Henry said that when he visited the Centre he saw “wall to wall Mayo” because Mayo.ie logos were on all walls. He also said there was a full room of Mayo products.

Head of Enterprise John Reilly said there was a pull-up stand about Sligo inside the door and pointed out that another room was shared by Sligo and Leitrim.

Council Chief Executive Ciarán Hayes said ¤20,000 was “really good value”.