The Strabane SDLP District Executive has launched its “Unlocking Stabane’s Potential” campaign aimed at creating jobs and investment in the area.
The initiative follows the approval of the £50 million Three Rivers Project for the Strabane area.
Following the work of the local SDLP to get this major project over the line, many have described the project as a golden opportunity which has the potential to create up to 1700 jobs for the area.
Patrick Leonard, the party’s representative for Sperrin, said the SDLP had now placed job creation and investment at the top of its agenda in Strabane.
Mr Leonard said: “After years of continued hard work by SDLP MLA Joe Byrne and the local SDLP team the Three Rivers Project has finally been given the green light.
“This is a time to be positive as the people of Strabane embark on a progressive step forward.”
“It is very unfortunate that Strabane has not seen nor benefited from any economic investment from Government or the private sector for decades prior to recent weeks.
“The SDLP now have placed job creation and investment at the top of our agenda in Strabane with an aim to tackle the very high levels of unemployment locally and attract investment.”
Calling for “greater support” for small to medium sized businesses within the town centre struggling to survive with the low levels of footfall, Mr Leonard said it was visitors and local residents were given an incentive to “eat, shop and socialise” in Strabane by attracting new anchor tenants to the town centre, creating healthy competition and generating new footfall.
Mr Leonard continued: “There are answers to the hurdles we face locally, but it will require action on a proactive and innovative level to deliver the bigger picture.”
He concluded: “The SDLP have adopted this approach locally and will be meeting with a considerable number of investors in the coming months to sell the Strabane Brand and spread the message that Strabane is very much open for business.”
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