The official opening of Mitchelstown Enterprise Centre at Dublin Road will take place on Tuesday, September 19 at 4pm, with Mr David Stanton TD, Minister of State in the Department of Justice and Equality doing the honours.
Located opposite the Firgrove Hotel in the former advance factory, the Enterprise Centre is the brainchild of the Mitchelstown Forum, which is representative of all community groups and sports clubs in the Mitchelstown area.
The building was purchased two years ago by the Forum company with the help of Enterprise Ireland, Cork County Council and others. The Centre opened in 2015 and already houses nine businesses employing a total of 26 people at present.
Such has been the demand for space since the start-up, that plans are already afoot to build an additional 4,000 square foot facility for aspiring entrepreneurs, bringing potential employment towards seventy full time jobs.
Explaining the background of the Centre, Forum chairperson Liam O’Doherty, said they realised several years ago that there was a shortage of suitable space in Mitchelstown for local entrepreneurs looking for a base to start a new business.
“We looked at several possible sites, from existing buildings to green field sites and settled on the advance factory which had been vacant for some time.
“We approached Enterprise Ireland who agreed to provide 45% of the cost and Cork County Council also offered very significant support. The rest came from local Mitchelstown people who backed the project with loans and donations.”
Liam said the success of the Enterprise Centre is ‘a great sign for the future of Mitchelstown’.
“While the town still relies on large employers like Dairygold, Aldi and others, there is no doubt that small businesses will become the greatest source of employment in the years ahead and we in the Mitchelstown Forum want to provide a suitable environment for people with business ideas to develop those ideas.
“Everyone in Mitchelstown, individuals and groups, are welcome at the official opening next Tuesday. We’d be delighted to show you around,” concluded Mr O’Doherty.
