Three buildings being examined for Monksland Enterprise Hub

Athlone Chamber of Commerce is currently examining three potential buildings for the proposed Monksland Enterprise Hub, with a view to selecting a building by November. The Chamber said this week that it hopes to have compiled a draft report on the feasibility for the hub by November, but stressed that such a venture will only be feasible if there is interest from clients. The draft report will identify a building for the hub; outline the business case for the enterprise hub and identify clients who will use the hub. In the meantime the Chamber is actively seeking expressions of interest from people who would like to use the hub, be it for one day a week or for a month. CEO of Athlone Chamber of Commerce Siobhan Bigley explained that the really big selling point of the enterprise hub will be the high speed broadband available. She said the enterprise hub would be suitable for anyone thinking of starting a business, anyone who has just started a business, people looking to use meeting/training rooms and people who are perhaps commuting to Dublin to work and are unable to work from home due to poor broadband could use the hub for one or two days a week. The initiative came about after Deputy Denis Naughten approached Athlone Chamber of Commerce last autumn to see if anything could be done to help such business people, many of whom were working from home but had to drive to certain locations on the road in order to get a broadband signal. Roscommon LEADER then provided some funding for a feasibility study to be carried out, which is almost complete. It is envisaged the enterprise hub will be similar to The Cube at GMIT or the digital hub near the Guinness Storehouse in Dublin. Ms Bigley said while the Chamber is looking for expressions of interest, it is not looking for a commitment from potential clients at this stage and would be happy to speak to anyone who may be interested. The Chamber will be linking in with all relevant agencies in the Midlands and West, as its location straddles both areas. Anyone interested in using the enterprise hub can contact 086 8395861 or siobhan@athlonechamber.ie