Ballymena’s Chamber is ‘the business’ - Foster

Addressing members of Ballymena Chamber of Commerce and Industry at their luncheon in the town last Wednesday, the Minister also revealed that local businesses have benefited significantly from Invest Northern Ireland’s Jobs Fund, which was launched in April 2011 to support business owners across Northern Ireland to create new, sustainable jobs that will help tackle unemployment.‬

Ms Foster, who was warmly welcomed to the event in the Adair Arms Hotel, by the Mayor, Ald PJ McAvoy, and Chamber President, Thomas McKillen, said: “In the Ballymena Borough Council area there are currently 18 Jobs Fund business investment projects at various stages of development which should lead to the creation of 64 new jobs, 18 of which have already been created.”‬

She commended the Ballymena Chamber for the positive contribution it makes to the borough and described such organisations as “the backbone of the local economy”.

The Minister said it was important for local business to have ‘a strong collective voice’.‬

She said: “Experience and know-how means the Chamber can provide a network of support and guidance on the ground. This makes it an important resource for anyone involved, or just starting out, in retail or business.” ‬

Outlining the measures being taken to help boost business, the Minister said the newly expanded Small Business Rates Relief Scheme was providing support to almost 1,000 business ratepayers in the Ballymena area.‬

The Minister added: “Building a strong business base in the Ballymena borough takes not just ambitious and talented entrepreneurs - it also requires a strong support network. That is why Invest Northern Ireland offers a range of support to help businesses with product and processes development, with exporting activity and with achieving operational excellence.”

Turning to tourism, the Minister said the Ballymena borough has much to offer visitors from Northern Ireland and further afield.‬

She said: “Today’s event is in the Adair Arms, a hotel right in the heart of Ballymena which has recently been refurbished and extended by the McKeever family with support from Invest Northern Ireland, a sign of the confidence that clearly exists in the borough’s tourism offering.

“As the Gateway to the Glens, Ballymena has some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world on its doorstep. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) and its partners have just recently completed new interpretation and welcoming signage on the internationally acclaimed Causeway Coastal Route, which includes interpretation infrastructure at key visitor sites and attractions including Slemish Mountain.‬

“A couple of weeks ago, I had the pleasure launching the NI Open Challenge at Galgorm, which is expected to attract over 28,000 spectators. The NI Milk Cup, supported by my Department through the NITB, is another great sporting event which includes venues in the Ballymena borough and brings young footballers and their supporters from all over the world to the local area,” said the Minister.

Earlier in the day she enjoyed a tour of the award winning village of Broughshane as well as a meeting with officials of Michelin at their Raceview plant and following the luncheon, she met with civic leaders to discuss local issues such as the Integrated Economic Strategy for the borough.