27/07/2015

Plan for Success CONSULATION WORKSHOP

Cllr. Andrew Duncan, Leas Cathaoirleach, Westmeath County Council

David Hogan Director of Services, Westmeath County Council

The OPPORTUNITY Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA)

Within context of local government reform – more integrated ‘joined up’ approach

Rural Economic Development Zones (REDZ) pilot initiative – rural hinterlands linked to towns (beneficial relationship)

Timely with introduction of the Local Economic & Community Planning process

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PURPOSE OF WORKSHOP 1) Inform you of the opportunity 2) Engage with you & get feedback on project direction and components 3) Get involved in the process

Build on consultations with Marketing and

The OPPORTUNITY 18 REDZ projects will be funded from a ‘pot’ of €2million

3 flagships of €250k Town is 10,000+ population - main economic driver 75% funding, 10% voluntary labour, 15% cash (5 medium of €150k and 10 small of €50k)

READY TO GO ! Application deadline 31 st August , decisions & contracts 30 th Sept, all grant expenditure spent by 31 st December

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REDZ application process Competitive ! Based on evidence of need Must be additional and demonstrate local support (ownership is key) All about impact & sustainability The bottom line ------JOB CREATION

LIR economic development hubs

LIR economic development team A robust, representative driving force – action led and strategic

MULLINGAR

Castlepollard Rochfortbridge

We need to put this structure in place .

LIR economic development zone 3 PILLARS as basis of a job creation ecosystem

Tourism Creating an Community Business identity & – a well integrated visitor Connected & marketed, experience, enterprising outward maximising product communities looking development, with inspiring enterprising business places to work community development

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LIR economic development zone TOURISM Flagship project to develop a series of multi activity trails and experiences in the area – FUNCTIONAL -walking, cycling, driving and water based THEMATIC –Culture & heritage, food & craft 3 elements of support under the REDZ programme – infrastructure, bundling/marketing and training.

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Other examples •Westmeath Way •Fore walking tour •Tain March trail •Mythological tourism – feed into Ancient East •Heritage Tours

http://www.trailkilkenny.ie/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/KK_Walk-Cycling_Trails_LR.pdf

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Westmeath has a food producers database of 67 businesses and a craft producers database of 40.

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EXAMPLES of bundling in practice

Great product, great marketing

Emerging www.bluewaysireland.org/blueways/shannon/

Bundling in action development of ‘product’

Purple Flag status of Mullingar – Evening economy The baseline audit is powerful. 31 no. restaurants, 15 no. takeaways, 17 no. public houses, 3 no. town centre hotels, 158 no. registered taxis cater for 3,000 visitors on a peak night Linkage with food trail- 50km menu to support artisan producers ? Mullingar is the region’s self-proclaimed music capital for both modern and traditional forms – another product ? Marketing as a destination town- how to link this into job creation & rural economy ?

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Indicative projects Remember grant to be spent by December 31 st

Infrastructure Branding Training stimulus

e.g. mapping, Signage, marketing self employment & physical materials ideas generation improvements re programmes based access on responding to the economic Product /visitor opportunities arising experience inc agri development diversification, tourim guides

BUSINESS pillar is a compelling place to do business and to be in business. A lot of work done in articulating the proposition ‘ we have it all’ (value for money workspace, accessibility, infrastructure, educated and committed workforce, supportive business peers and networks and welcoming progressive local government) + the very important quality of life ingredients in abundance. Current marketing initiative – video & photo bank

BUSINESS pillar Access to much needed marketing funds – what should that marketing look like ? Workspace – marketing database

How can we building on e-working potential? Capital investment in economic hubs across our 7 areas. Local investment drivers – Ambassadors campaign with our Disapora including our NEW disapora

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COMMUNITY pillar Focus on community based job creation

Places to work Places to convene Places to learn & connect Capacity building

Places to work Focus on community based job creation From within the identified communities, what assets can contribute to e- working ? What economic add-ons ? IT networking group

Community Drivers

•Underutilised buildings •Structures to deliver services •Capacity building to maximise community engagement

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Places to convene & connect

Single point of contact Hot Desk facilities Meeting rooms Shared resources Use of internet, printer, copier, phones, etc. Mentoring and action planning Social Enterprise Taster Sessions Idea Generation Sessions Networking & collaboration – joint projects, shared staff

Places to learn Job creation at heart of upskilling for self employment and employment Specific programmes at community level - tell us the training needs.

The OPPORTUNITY Flagship budget

€330,000 Total spend €250,000 REDZ grant €50,000 cash €33,000 In kind

€150,000 Infrastructure €80,000 Marketing €100,000 Community

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How the projects are measured ? Outputs •Number of Enterprises supported • Number of training/capacity building days supported •Number of people trained •Number of town/village physical improvements supported

Outcomes Number of new jobs created as a result of funding - Number of existing jobs secured/sustained as a result of funding - Number of services which have improved/enhanced services to the community or target group as a result of funding. - Increased levels of cooperation as a result of supported initiative. - The ways in which services have been improved/enhanced as a result of funding

SCORING AS OUR GUIDE Capacity of applicant groupCompetitive 15 ! Comparability with REDZ concept 25 – address CEDRA objectives & Based on evidencepriorities of , Collaborative need & participatory approach, additionality, sustainable Add value/value for money 20 – targets and impact Demonstration of need & potential 20 Realistic nature of the proposal 20 – is this doable ?! Clear outcomes, scope and reach, delivery mechanisms, includes evaluation (back to the PILOT nature)

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What we want from 5 working groups Focus on local impact, how can each strand be realised – within the timescale What can this grant stimulus lead to ? Additionality -Commitment = sustainability Working group structure (representative of the 3 strands) & project brand name

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