I am pleased to be able to outline yet another year of successful economic development activity undertaken by Lisburn City Council’s Economic Development Unit.
This report gives just a flavour of the range of integrated actions driven by the Council for the benefits of our local business community, development groups, and resident population between April 2001 and March 2002.
The results speak for themselves 119 jobs, £4,049,675 of revenue generated, 3,607 project participants and 46 projects effected across the various integrated programme themes including Tourism and Lagan Corridor. The targets have been challenging, but support from our partner organisations and funders have made them achievable.
It gives me great pleasure to be able to state that the Council was successful in obtaining a phased grant programme worth £1.4m to the local economy over the next few years, under the EU Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme. Indeed, many of the projects highlighted in the pages to follow are directly co-financed from this source, matching the Council’s own contributions on a 50/50 basis.
Additionally, direct financial contributions from Invest NI, the Environment and Heritage Service, and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, have further assisted the Council in ensuring delivery of its economic development objectives.
As ever, these objectives cannot be achieved by the Council alone. We rely on the expertise of project delivery partner organisations from the public, private and community sectors across the City, to ensure that programme activity is focused, efficient and based on clearly identified local needs.
I thank all those who participated in whatever capacity. I commend the Council’s Economic Development Unit led by Paul McCormick, for its commitment and expertise in the successful delivery of this year’s Programme.
Councillor Peter O’Hagan
Chairman of the Economic Development Committee
(June 2001 - June 2002)
