Construction Contract Signed For BIA Innovator Campus in Athenry
BIA Innovator Campus, the multi-million euro food innovation hub in Athenry, has taken a step forward with the construction contract agreed and signed with Glenman Corporation, the general building contractor and civil engineering company. BIA Innovator Campus will transform the food entrepreneurship landscape in the West of Ireland, and aims to create more than 360 jobs in over 40 businesses across the region, providing much needed facilities to help the food industry in the west through support, learning and collaboration.
Glenman Corporation has over 25 years of experience in Ireland and the UK. Established in 1994 by brothers Albert and Micheal Conneally, Glenman Corporation has undergone continuous growth as a main contractor delivering projects in sectors including residential, education, healthcare, hotels and leisure, commercial, conservation, municipal and civil works. In 2011 Glenman Corporation extended its operations into the UK market and now has offices in Chiswick and Crawley, serving clients across Greater London and the South East of England.
Peter Feeney, Chairman of BIA Innovator Campus CLG, said: “I’m delighted to see the project move to the construction phase. This is a project of national significance and the food hub will fill a void in the Western Region, allowing the development of innovative added value food products becoming central to rural development and a sustainable agricultural sector. This project will support our farmers, producers and chefs to grow with the correct facilities, training and advice to bolster our wonderful communities in the West of Ireland. As Chairman, I would like to thank the partners in this exciting venture – both the Department of Community and Rural Development, and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation – for funding this project and especially the board members who have given their time and expertise to get us to where we are today.”
The strength of the project was borne out of the success of a strong collaboration and a vision for developing the food entrepreneurship in the West of Ireland. Galway County Council, as the local authority with responsibility for local economic development, facilitated the bringing together of partners at a local and national level including surrounding local authorities and local enterprise offices. This was coupled with the shared vision of Teagasc in their role as the National Food and Agriculture Development Authority.
The two main partners, working closely with the Galway Roscommon Education and Training Board (GRETB), Athenry Community Council, SCCUL plus Western Development Commission, have delivered the project to construction phase.
