�1.5M FACTORY SPARKS JOB HOPES FOR OMAGH AREA
�1.5m factory sparks job hopes for Omagh area
Announcement hailed 'positive step forward'
MORE than 300 jobs could be created in Omagh within the next year, once a new �1.5 million state-of-the-art advance factory is built at Doogary West Industrial Estate, the chief executive of the district council, Mr. John McKinney, said this week.
News of the planned 30,000sq feet factory which is expected to attract major investment to the town, has been welcomed by local councillors and Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
And it is being seen as a positive step as the town tries to move forward in the aftermath of last month's bomb atrocity.
The announcement that the Industrial Development Board was to fund the much needed purpose-built factory, to help boost investment, was made by the Economy Minister, Mr. Adam Ingram, on Monday.
It came less than two weeks after the US President Bill Clinton pledged to help the town rebuild itself after the August 15th bombing and amid calls for Government assistance for the community.
The factory is to be built within the next nine months on the larger 26-acre site at Doogary, and will allow for expansion. Confidence is high that a tenant will be found soon after it is completed.
Mr. McKinney said the advance factory had come about after a culmination of intense lobbying by the district council and others, including the Chamber of Commerce, over a number of years.
"We have always believed that an advance factory was an added advantage when trying to attract new business, and I am still of that belief," he said.
"I am confident that we will be able to attract a tenant for the building when it is completed within the next year."
Mr. McKinney said enquiries into tenants for the Doogary Industrial Estate were ongoing but the attraction of a purpose-built factory would boost interest, and give an added push to the process. He said that at least 30 jobs could be created in the factory.
Mr. McKinney added: "Hopefully we will have opportunities to talk with some US multi-nationals and large companies in the not-too-distant future, with a view to them investing in Omagh."
Recovery
Council chairman, Mr. Sean Clarke, said the news marked the beginning of the road to recovery for the town, and would make the job of finding a tenant for the site much easier.
"Not only will the factory create jobs when it is completed, but business will be generated for local contractors in the actual construction of it," he said.
"It is certainly a positive move after what the town has been trough over the last few weeks,"
Mr Allan Rainey, Vice-chairman, said the news was "music to the ears" for the people of Omagh.
"At last we have something positive in relation to attracting investment to the town, and it is envisaged that around 300 jobs will be created as a result," he said.
"We have had our hopes dashed in the past, but this is of a more optimistic nature, especially at a time when the town needs a lift.
"Negotiations with the Industrial Development Board in recent times has paid a great dividend. A few months ago I met representatives from the IDB, and at that stage there were positive signals. But now that has all come to fruition,"
Mr Rainey said he was confident a tenant would be found to occupy the new factory.
"There are certainly positive signs of that happening, and the electricity board is also at Doogary at the moment working on a substation there in preparation for business to get underway," he said.
'Refreshing News'
Council member Mrs. Ann Gormley, said the advance factory was 'refreshing news' for the business community, which was determined to rebuild the town after the bomb.
"There will be a positive knock-effect in training and education, and it will possibly open up more facilities at Queens University in the locality," she said.
"A state-of-the-art factory will encourage young skilled people to stay in the area, and this, in turn, will mean a boon to the housing industry."
Mrs. Gormley said the town already had the manpower and the training facilities available, and had the capacity to encourage more inward investment in the future.
"Omagh District Council, along with our newly-elected Assembly members, will continue to fight for extra funding to improve the roads infrastructure, as this will be necessary to service new industries," she said.
"Omagh is ready to move on with a positive spirit and a renewed enthusiasm to build a better future for our community."
Local councillor, Mr. Seamus Shields, said the factory was to be greatly welcomed, and was something his party, the SDLP, had been calling for, for some time.
"In the past, Omagh has lost out by not having suitable accommodation in terms of factory space," he said.
"Just two years ago, Omagh had been identified as the favourite location for an IDB development, but because there was no suitable factory space, we lost out to Limavady."
He said that while factory space "ready and waiting" should encourage investment, the 30,000sq feet one planned for Doogary was perhaps somewhat small.
Expansion
"I would have liked to see a bigger development, but the Minister's announcement does say the factory will be capable of future expansion," he said.
"The Minister notes the availability of a flexible workforce, and points out that the Omagh has been identified as an area of social need."
He went on to say that, once the factory was built, every effort must be made to find a suitable tenant as soon as possible.
And he said he hoped the announcement of the new advance factory would encourage other investors to see the potential of Omagh.
"We greatly welcome the decision by the Minister and hope that it will make a significant contribution to Omagh's chances for attracting major investment," he added.
"We have not had an IDB investment in over 30 years, and it is time that our community benefited from the upturn of the economy that has taken place elsewhere."
The president of Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Michael Gaine, also warmly welcomed the news of the advance factory.
And he congratulated the Government on its commitment to the region.
Describing the announcement as a "vote of confidence" in Omagh, its people and its future, he said: "The Minister and the IDB have made a significant commitment towards the regeneration of the region and, this will be particularly welcomed by our younger people."
He went on: "When President Clinton visited us we asked him to urge US business leaders to consider Omagh as an investment location."
"Next month IDB executives and Government ministers embark on an 11-city tour of the USA to sell the attractions of Northern Ireland to possible investors."
"Now that the Minister has promised us a factory, it is our sincere hope that the forthcoming US visit will identify a tenant."
Announcing the �1.5 million investment by the IDB, Mr. Ingram said the development reflected the Government's commitment to promote industry and expand job opportunities in an area of "social need".
"It is imperative now that the concrete help is given quickly in the aftermath of the recent atrocity and in response to the request by the people of Omagh and the district council for help," he said.
"He said Omagh had been a high priority area for IDB investment and trade support activities, and he was confident the advance factory unit could be constructed quickly and cost effectively.
"This new unit will be of interest to overseas business seeking an operational base in Northern Ireland to serve export markets. It will be suitable for both manufacturing and tradable service industries," the Minister said.
Mr. Ingram added that an important attraction of the potential investors was the availability of labour in the area, particularly young people who were seeking employment and keen to take part in training programmes.
Announcement hailed 'positive step forward'
MORE than 300 jobs could be created in Omagh within the next year, once a new �1.5 million state-of-the-art advance factory is built at Doogary West Industrial Estate, the chief executive of the district council, Mr. John McKinney, said this week.
News of the planned 30,000sq feet factory which is expected to attract major investment to the town, has been welcomed by local councillors and Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
And it is being seen as a positive step as the town tries to move forward in the aftermath of last month's bomb atrocity.
The announcement that the Industrial Development Board was to fund the much needed purpose-built factory, to help boost investment, was made by the Economy Minister, Mr. Adam Ingram, on Monday.
It came less than two weeks after the US President Bill Clinton pledged to help the town rebuild itself after the August 15th bombing and amid calls for Government assistance for the community.
The factory is to be built within the next nine months on the larger 26-acre site at Doogary, and will allow for expansion. Confidence is high that a tenant will be found soon after it is completed.
Mr. McKinney said the advance factory had come about after a culmination of intense lobbying by the district council and others, including the Chamber of Commerce, over a number of years.
"We have always believed that an advance factory was an added advantage when trying to attract new business, and I am still of that belief," he said.
"I am confident that we will be able to attract a tenant for the building when it is completed within the next year."
Mr. McKinney said enquiries into tenants for the Doogary Industrial Estate were ongoing but the attraction of a purpose-built factory would boost interest, and give an added push to the process. He said that at least 30 jobs could be created in the factory.
Mr. McKinney added: "Hopefully we will have opportunities to talk with some US multi-nationals and large companies in the not-too-distant future, with a view to them investing in Omagh."
Recovery
Council chairman, Mr. Sean Clarke, said the news marked the beginning of the road to recovery for the town, and would make the job of finding a tenant for the site much easier.
"Not only will the factory create jobs when it is completed, but business will be generated for local contractors in the actual construction of it," he said.
"It is certainly a positive move after what the town has been trough over the last few weeks,"
Mr Allan Rainey, Vice-chairman, said the news was "music to the ears" for the people of Omagh.
"At last we have something positive in relation to attracting investment to the town, and it is envisaged that around 300 jobs will be created as a result," he said.
"We have had our hopes dashed in the past, but this is of a more optimistic nature, especially at a time when the town needs a lift.
"Negotiations with the Industrial Development Board in recent times has paid a great dividend. A few months ago I met representatives from the IDB, and at that stage there were positive signals. But now that has all come to fruition,"
Mr Rainey said he was confident a tenant would be found to occupy the new factory.
"There are certainly positive signs of that happening, and the electricity board is also at Doogary at the moment working on a substation there in preparation for business to get underway," he said.
'Refreshing News'
Council member Mrs. Ann Gormley, said the advance factory was 'refreshing news' for the business community, which was determined to rebuild the town after the bomb.
"There will be a positive knock-effect in training and education, and it will possibly open up more facilities at Queens University in the locality," she said.
"A state-of-the-art factory will encourage young skilled people to stay in the area, and this, in turn, will mean a boon to the housing industry."
Mrs. Gormley said the town already had the manpower and the training facilities available, and had the capacity to encourage more inward investment in the future.
"Omagh District Council, along with our newly-elected Assembly members, will continue to fight for extra funding to improve the roads infrastructure, as this will be necessary to service new industries," she said.
"Omagh is ready to move on with a positive spirit and a renewed enthusiasm to build a better future for our community."
Local councillor, Mr. Seamus Shields, said the factory was to be greatly welcomed, and was something his party, the SDLP, had been calling for, for some time.
"In the past, Omagh has lost out by not having suitable accommodation in terms of factory space," he said.
"Just two years ago, Omagh had been identified as the favourite location for an IDB development, but because there was no suitable factory space, we lost out to Limavady."
He said that while factory space "ready and waiting" should encourage investment, the 30,000sq feet one planned for Doogary was perhaps somewhat small.
Expansion
"I would have liked to see a bigger development, but the Minister's announcement does say the factory will be capable of future expansion," he said.
"The Minister notes the availability of a flexible workforce, and points out that the Omagh has been identified as an area of social need."
He went on to say that, once the factory was built, every effort must be made to find a suitable tenant as soon as possible.
And he said he hoped the announcement of the new advance factory would encourage other investors to see the potential of Omagh.
"We greatly welcome the decision by the Minister and hope that it will make a significant contribution to Omagh's chances for attracting major investment," he added.
"We have not had an IDB investment in over 30 years, and it is time that our community benefited from the upturn of the economy that has taken place elsewhere."
The president of Omagh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Michael Gaine, also warmly welcomed the news of the advance factory.
And he congratulated the Government on its commitment to the region.
Describing the announcement as a "vote of confidence" in Omagh, its people and its future, he said: "The Minister and the IDB have made a significant commitment towards the regeneration of the region and, this will be particularly welcomed by our younger people."
He went on: "When President Clinton visited us we asked him to urge US business leaders to consider Omagh as an investment location."
"Next month IDB executives and Government ministers embark on an 11-city tour of the USA to sell the attractions of Northern Ireland to possible investors."
"Now that the Minister has promised us a factory, it is our sincere hope that the forthcoming US visit will identify a tenant."
Announcing the �1.5 million investment by the IDB, Mr. Ingram said the development reflected the Government's commitment to promote industry and expand job opportunities in an area of "social need".
"It is imperative now that the concrete help is given quickly in the aftermath of the recent atrocity and in response to the request by the people of Omagh and the district council for help," he said.
"He said Omagh had been a high priority area for IDB investment and trade support activities, and he was confident the advance factory unit could be constructed quickly and cost effectively.
"This new unit will be of interest to overseas business seeking an operational base in Northern Ireland to serve export markets. It will be suitable for both manufacturing and tradable service industries," the Minister said.
Mr. Ingram added that an important attraction of the potential investors was the availability of labour in the area, particularly young people who were seeking employment and keen to take part in training programmes.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1193
Published Date: 17-Sep-98
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