Rural eTowns to boost jobs and technology
The project will bring broadband to four towns in the region and the establishment of special business/residential centres targeted at the traded services sector.
It is expected that each town will get 50 new jobs from this pioneering project.
Shannon Development chief executive Kevin Thompstone said the aim was to support and enhance local enterprise investment in smaller rural towns where the lack of broadband connectivity is discouraging this type of investment.
“Technology will play a key role in each eTown - we regard it as a catalyst which will attract new business,” Mr Thompstone said.
Shannon Development is pioneering this eTown project in partnership with local authorities and the local communities in the following four towns: Miltown Malbay in Co Clare; Cappamore in Co Limerick; Newport in Co Tipperary; and Tarbert in Co Kerry.
There will be a €3m investment in each town where special work-life accommodation, equipped with the latest broadband technology, will be built by public-private partnerships.
Miltown Malbay will become Ireland’s first rural eTown and construction on the project will begin early next year.
The project will include a courtyard of 10 houses that will be wired for broadband and have office and business space and living accommodation.
The first option to buy these units will be given to businesses in the traded services sector like graphic design, consultancy, web design, publishing and professional services.
An extra €400,000 has been spent in the four locations on training and marketing, partially funded by the EU.
In Miltown Malbay, 12 local people have just completed a six-month technology and community course.
They will be responsible for the content and management of the town’s new website - www.etownsmiltownmalbay.ie - expected to be up and running at the end of the month.
They will also give local business and community groups support in accessing the internet.
Clare County Manger Alec Fleming said the Miltown Malbay project will be a blueprint for economic development in other parts of the county.
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