£1.1m programme refocused to support 600 businesses

Speaking on a visit to PJD Safety Supplies in Ballygawley, Minister Dodds said: “I want to commend Mid Ulster District Council and Invest Northern Ireland who have worked closely to adapt programme delivery and provide Covid-19 focused support. This funding will help companies adjust to overcome current economic challenges and sustain businesses while they are planning for future recovery and growth in a post Covid-19 economy.

“The three-year support package aims to help micro and small businesses in the area recover from the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and sustain and grow employment in more than 600 local firms. Building capacity in key business areas, such as planning, financial management and tendering, innovation, the adoption of new technologies and digital growth, have all been included in the funded programme to help companies sustain and create jobs while competing successfully for new work to increase sales and turnover.”

Chair of the Council, Councillor Cathal Mallaghan, added: “Mid Ulster’s position as the centre of manufacturing here and its concentration of construction businesses means the district has suffered a substantial and sustained economic shock and is being disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

“It has never been more critical for us all, whether in local or central government, to intervene to support this area’s economic recovery. Economic growth is ultimately what we are striving for, however, we recognise that the immediate need is to sustain the existing economy and existing jobs. Tailoring our support programmes to assist the small businesses on which our economy has been founded and from where we derive our economic strength is a central plank of Mid Ulster’s recovery in the long-term.

“I would like to thank the Department and Invest NI for their funding which means we are injecting over £1million until 2022 to help our local businesses grow.”

This project is part funded by Invest NI and the European Regional Development Fund under the Investment for Growth and Jobs NI (2014-2020) Programme.

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