ABC Council launches Local Economic Partnership

THE ABC (Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon) Council successfully hosted the inaugural meeting of the new Local Economic Partnership, marking a significant step forward in the borough’s drive to strengthen economic growth and collaboration.

The meeting brought together a broad and diverse group of stakeholders to lay the foundation for the newly established partnership, which is being supported by £4.5 million in funding from the Department for the Economy (DfE) over the next three years.

The LEP aims to identify key barriers to economic development across the borough and to co-design and deliver interventions that enhance the region’s value proposition, support local enterprise, and promote innovation and skills development.

The Partnership includes four elected members Banbridge representatives Alderman Paul Greenfield, Councillor Joy Ferguson and Councillor Kevin Savage and Lagan River member Councillor Kyle Savage - along with representatives from Southern Regional College (SRC), Business Partnership Alliance (BPA), Labour Market Partnerships (LMP), Community Planning, Invest Northern Ireland, and the Department for the Economy.