One of the main recommendations in the Athy Regeneration Plan published late last year was that an ongoing enterprise awareness programme should be organised as a monthly structured event to encourage Local Enterprise and Commerce in the town. The Athy Enterprise Network now hosts the monthly meetings in association with North Kildare Chamber who facilitate similar events elsewhere in the county.
(L-R Allan Shine NKCC CEO, Adrian Conlan, Athy Enterprise Network, Vivian Cummins NKCC President)
The ‘First Friday’ on 4th March will see a presentation by Alan Dempsey, Craft Brewing Manager at Minch Malt, one of the oldest companies in the town and the fifth largest malt producer in the world. In addition, Joe Boland, Director of Services with Kildare County Council will outline some recent and proposed developments for the area.
Adrian Conlan, Chair of the Local Enterprise and Commerce sub-committee of the Athy Enterprise Network in welcoming the ‘First Fridays’ said today , “We are very pleased with the response to the first ‘First Friday’ which was a good initial step in rebuilding confidence for commercial activity in the town
We see this as an opportunity to encourage more cooperation and networking in the Athy and south Kildare area”.
Vivian Cummins, the Athy-based President of the North Kildare Chamber of Commerce said, “It was great to get the support of over 30 local business people at the first meeting and we’re delighted to be able to cooperate with the Athy Enterprise Network in this way. I hope the ‘First Fridays’ will be as successful as the similar meetings we host elsewhere in the county. It’s only by working together and sharing information that firms can protect existing jobs and support each other in creating new ones”.
Numbers are limited to ensure the meetings are productive and pre-booking is essential. Contact Jennifer (045) 894 074or Jennifer@northkildarechamber.ie
The next ‘First Friday’ meeting is in The Clanard Court Hotel on Friday 4th March. Refreshments and sandwiches are provided from 12.45 pm with the presentation commencing at 1 pm sharp and concluding before 2 pm.