I congratulate the Bia Innovator Athenry on their successful application for additional funding under the Government’s Regional Enterprise Transition Scheme (RETS). The Scheme assists regional projects affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and by other regional challenges following the UK’s departure from the EU.
The fund which is delivered for the Government through Enterprise Ireland, targets existing regional and community-based projects previously supported under the Regional Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) and Border Enterprise Development Fund.
The Bia Innovator based in Athenry is one of 24 successful projects which demonstrated the ability to deliver additional impact and execute project deliverables in the current year and the 24 projects will receive over €9.3m in funding.
“I commend the board of the Bia Innovator project lead by Chairman Peter Feeney and the manager of the centre Elaine Donohue in their fantastic leadership and work to date”.
“The BIA Innovator is a huge project for Athenry which is expected to create 360 jobs and 2,400 training places in 40 new businesses within its first three years of operation”.
“This is a major employment initiative, which has been previously supported with a €3.6 million grant from the Department of Rural and Community Development, under the Rural Regeneration Fund.
“The BIA Innovator will make Athenry a global leader for food innovation and is part of a master plan for the town to reach its full potential as a major centre for food and tourism”.