£10K university support will aid Mid and East Antrim’s economic planning

The sponsorship package will enable forecasting research to assist future economic planning and development activities in the borough.

The economic policy centre is funded through sponsorship by a range of organisations which have an interest in the Northern Ireland economy. Eight of the province’s district councils have sponsorship agreements.

A report to a meeting of the borough council stated: “The standard of the work has proved to be very pivotal to economic forecasting and post-Covid, this will be important for the year ahead.

“This will be critical information as we go through the recovery phase following Covid-19.

“It is critical that we continue to monitor the current labour market and engage with the university in relation of a number of additional support areas that will feed into our City Deal work as well as our Covid-19 recovery plans.

“Given the current economic crisis and challenging recovery process that is ahead of council and the local business community, it will be vital to have access to live credible data.”

Larne Lough DUP Councillor Gregg McKeen said that information from the Ulster University’s Economic Policy Centre would give the council an opportunity to “see trends and where to focus on” adding that this input would be “crucial”.

Michelle Weir, Local Democracy Reporter.

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