Major initiative to attract investment to Ballinasloe

The net has been widened in the quest for a new employer to establish in an advance technology building in Ballinasloe – it is part of a major initiative to attract fresh jobs to the town.

Earlier this year, Galway County Council granted planning for an advanced technology building to be located at IDA lands in Creagh and it has already resulted in expressions of interest from potential employers to the town.

The application was submitted by Ballinasloe Area Community Development (BACD), who are actively trying to lure investment and industry to the town. They had the consent of the IDA.

And it will be something of ‘a three-pronged approach’ as now both BACD, the IDA and, hopefully, a potential investor will be involved in the process of getting the new building constructed.

There has been close contact between the marketing section of the IDA and the committee of BACD and it is understood that already there have been some expressions of interest.

Cllr Michael Connolly, who is the most recent addition to the board, said that the granting of planning permission for the construction of a 15,000 square feet advance technology building on IDA lands at Creagh had certainly strengthened their case for investment

Finance to the tune of €30,000 was provided by Ballinasloe Credit Union to process the planning application.

“And there is certainly no reason why Galway County Council should not be involved in this process as it is also in their interest. Another agency on our side would certainly help”, Cllr Connolly added.

Chairman of BACD Seamus Duffy said that there had been a lot of scaremongering in Ballinasloe and it wasn’t helping the town’s efforts to attract a major investor.

But he emphasised that there was determined work going on behind the scenes to secure a new employer for the town.

“I can confirm that he have been in active discussion with various arms of the IDA and the fact that we have secured planning permission for a new technology building has certainly been to our advantage.

“In recent weeks, there have been a number of expressions of interest from potential employers and hopefully something tangible will come of this. We are very confident at the moment.

“We are well placed geographically and we have a motorway on our doorstep so to suggest that we are a forgotten town is very much off the mark. We have an awful lot going for us in Ballinasloe,” Mr Duffy added.

In recent years, a number of senior politicians have described Ballinasloe as being forgotten – this is an attitude which remains since the closures of Square D and AT Cross but BACD insist that, while always conscious of it, they have move on considerably.