Thrive centre set to launch in Meath amid warnings over lack of IDA site visits
A new business hub is set to open in Meath at the end of this month, representing a major investment by Meath County Council in supporting both indigenous and foreign direct investment businesses.
The Thrive Centre of Business Excellence will provide state-of-the-art space for training, networking and business support, bringing all of the Council’s business development teams under one roof.
The announcement comes as Sinn Féin Councillor Peter Caffrey raised concerns about Meath’s “poor overall ranking” in attracting site visits from the IDA (Industrial Development Authority) at the September meeting of Meath County Council.
The Kells councillor called on the council to “prioritise investment in infrastructure and skills to sustain future employment from both local and multinational companies.”
Figures show that in 2024, Meath received just one visit from foreign direct investors compared with 466 across the country.
In its response, the council confirmed it has stepped up engagement with the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to ensure Meath is actively promoted as an investment location.
“Meath County Council has addressed this issue with the agency and has commenced a series of regular engagements with both the IDA and Enterprise Ireland to ensure that Meath is considered when recommending potential locations to such investors,” the local authority said.
The Economic Development section has also produced a Strategic Employment Sites brochure highlighting large areas of appropriately zoned land across the county.
A new FDI Marketing Brochure, set to launch in the coming weeks, will showcase Meath’s workforce, infrastructure, pro-business ecosystem and quality of life.
Meanwhile, work is underway with the Regional Skills Forum Manager for the Mid East, LMETB, the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence in Dundalk, Dunboyne College, DKIT and Maynooth University to deliver training opportunities and align skills with business needs.
The council added that local companies are also being consulted to identify barriers to scaling and growth.