Cross-border body, the East Border Region (EBR) has been awarded just over €6m (just over £5m) in EU/UK Peace+ funding to turn disused or underutilised venues into ‘Mini-Digi Hubs’, as part of a ‘Smart Towns and Villages’ project.
Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon (ABC) Borough Council is one of six local authorities forming the East Border Region, and the venue to be turned into a mini digital hub within ABC is Bleary Business and Community Centre.
The aim of the project is to address the digital divide and catalyse economic growth, inclusivity, and balanced regional development, by transforming underutilised public buildings into vibrant digital hubs, each with a unique thematic focus designed to meet the specific needs of their local communities and the region at large.
It is hoped that these hubs will serve as epicentres for digital engagement within the community, offering co-working spaces, maker spaces, and labs.
Unveiling the scheme at a recent Governance, Resources & Strategy committee meeting of ABC, EBR programme manager, Dette Hughes commented: “I’m sure members are all quite aware of of the scale of Peace+ at this stage, it is a €1.1bn fund which covers a vast array of thematic areas.
“In East Border Region we have tended to focus our attention on investment areas that are particularly relevant to our member local authorities, to try and maximise the opportunities arising from those thematic areas, and we’re delighted to say that there are huge opportunities for local authorities in Peace+.
“We’ve had one project funded already from Peace+, and that’s the Mini-Digi Hub project.
“There is over €6m [allocated], so that’s a very significant investment coming into the region.
“In ABC Council it will be Bleary Business and Community Centre, so it’s repurposing a bit of that building into a lab.”
The proposed new layout for a revamped Bleary Business and Community Centre being used as a digi hub. Credit: ABC Council
Other venues include Cloughreagh Venue Community Centre in Newry; Comber Community Centre; the former Bank of Ireland in Clones, which has been purchased by Monaghan County Council; and premises in the village of Johnstown, Co. Meath.
There will also be a mobile digital lab, as the EBR representative explained: “The mobile digital lab is going to be managed by Dundalk Institute of Technology, and it’s going to house high-end equipment that will travel around the whole region.
“It will visit schools, colleges, community centres and businesses, and will provide bespoke masterclasses.
“It will provide high-end equipment that businesses will not have to invest in.”
The East Border Region’s partner local authorities are Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council, Ards & North Down Borough Council, Newry, Down & Mourne District Council, Monaghan County Council, Louth County Council and Meath County Council.
ABC representatives sitting on the EBR board are Councillor Kyle Savage (UUP, Banbridge DEA), Councillor Tim McClelland (DUP, Cusher DEA) and Councillor Ashley Mallon (Sinn Féin, Armagh DEA).
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