This article is from page 11 of the 2012-01-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
SHANNON Development could be about to play its part in helping revitalize the business district of Kilrush town centre through a new grant aid fund, the potential for which is set to be teased out over the next month by the state agency in conjunction with the town council and interest groups in the West Clare capital.
Details of what could potentially be a ground-breaking aid to new and existing businesses that wish to upgrade and re-brand themselves was unveiled by town manager Nora Kaye at the January meeting of Kilrush Town Council.
“We had a positive meeting with Shannon Development in relation to finding some fund that would encourage people to set up business in the town,” revealed Ms Kaye.
“The meeting was arranged with Shannon Development and that meeting took place (last Thursday). We discussed the need to revitalize the town centre, in view of the recent upgrade of Moore Street.
“What we were really looking at was a Shopfront Assistance Fund. For new businesses that are starting up or have started up, there would be a fund there from which allocations could be made and it would go towards helping the financial aspects towards setting up and fitting out a new business in the town, or even existing businesses that need to upgrade,” added Ms Kaye.
This new departure was given a broad welcome by all councillors, with the Mayor of Kilrush, Cllr Ian Lynch, saying that it was up to the local authority to spearhead the continued regeneration of the town.
“If we lose any more shops in the town people won’t stop in the town at all,” warned Mayor Lynch. “This is about reviving our town centre. This town council chamber is in the heart of the town centre and we really are the pulse of the town and we really need to drive this thing forward,” he added.
“It would be great if we could sit everyone around a table, so that we could all be involved in it,” said Cllr Marion McMahon-Jones (FG).
“I have spoken to a number of people with business premises on Moore Street and I think we should sit down and see what they have to offer.
“We should dedicate a meeting to this – not a monthly meeting but a special meeting,” suggested Cllr Liam Williams (FG).
“What’s going to happen is that a scheme will be drafted and we would hope to launch it early in the year so that businesses could avail of it and it would encourage phase two of the Moore Street regeneration,” concluded town manager Nora Kaye.
The special meeting to discuss the regeneration of the town has been fixed for Tuesday, February 7.