Economic Development Committee considers grants and investment showcase

COUNCILLORS are facing a busy agenda at the Economic Development Committee this week.

One of the items is an update on the £12,000 2026 Investment Showcase Event. On 10 December 2025 Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council hosted an Investment Showcase in Westminster, London, to build on the success of securing the Overall Council of the Year 2024 and 2025 finalist for Service Delivery by the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) and to launch a new investment proposition branch “Invest Antrim Newtownabbey: AN Investment that Delivers”

The event was attended by more than 120 people, including host MPs Robin Swann, John Finucane and Sammy Wilson as well as other elected officials and high-profile guests including local business leaders, investors and developers, alongside officers from key UK government departments.

The showcase highlighted the Borough’s strengths in connectivity, innovation, skills, and investment-ready sites; the Council’s ‘Call for Sites’, alongside the scale of opportunity emerging through key facilities such as Belfast International Airport and the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC). A report said that council officers have continued to work to ‘maximise on the momentum gained through the event and to continue to build brand awareness and enhance the Boroughs reputation as an attractive place to invest’.

In May 2026, the committee approved the delivery of a follow up event to the 2025 Investment Showcase, with a budget allocation of £12,000 for the 26/27 financial year.

The latest invite-only event will take place on the morning of Wednesday 2 December 2026 in the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) at Global Point.

The event will reflect on key discussion points following the previous years Investment Showcase Event as well as looking forward to growth opportunities within the Borough, including a Call for Sites update, an AMIC showcase and tour, while Dr Lollie Mancey will take park in a panel discussion on the subject of innovation.

The report said: "Invitations have been sent to elected representatives, key personnel from government agencies, local landowners, planning and commercial property agents and local businesses with an interest in advanced manufacturing and innovation.

Members of regional and national press have been invited to attend and report on the event. The event provides an opportunity to secure further positive media coverage for the Borough’s investment proposition, showcasing the area's strengths as a location for investment and business growth. Coverage will also support the promotion of the Borough’s brand and wider investment proposition, helping to raise its profile amongst key stakeholders.

Meanwhile, AMIC is hosting a dedicated event in January 2027 for elected members, local industry and businesses, near-by communities and school leaders. A report said that the event will: "Showcase AMIC's Factory of the Future facilities and innovation capabilitie, demonstrate practical opportunities for digital transformation and business improvement, highlight available programmes, funding and support opportunities and explore future collaboration opportunities between local businesses, technology providers and research partners."

Meanwhile, the committee is being told that OCO Global has been appointed to develop a new Economic Development Strategy and Costed Action Plan. A report said: "Work has commenced and nembers will be invited to a dedicated engagement session with the consultant in the coming weeks. Members will be kept up to date over the coming months, with the final strategy to be completed by 31 March 2027. "

The committee was asked to approve five grant requests under the ASK Capital Grant Programme for the period 21 August 2026 to 19 October 2026, with a total value of £6,540.77 and to green-light the council’s corporate membership of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce for 2026/2027, at a cost of £3,300 (excluding VAT).

There were also two grant recommendations under Call 2 of the Local Economic Partnership (LEP) Technical Assistance Programme totalling £16,380.

Members were additionally asked to approve an increase in the maximum grant amount under the Green for Business Capital Grant Programme from £5,000 to £10,000, with a reduction in the intervention rate from 80% to 50%, and a lower intervention rate of 30% for solar PV. They were also asked to agree the reprofiling of £50,000 of Workspace Development Technical Assistance funding from 2027/28 to 2026/27 and £500,000 of Workspace Development capital funding from 2026/27 to 2027/28, subject to funder approval.

And there was a request for the removal of the Digital Transformation Mentoring Programme from the LEP Action Plan, with the associated £40,000 budget to be reallocated at a later date.

Two grant awards totalling £6,799 were set to be approved for the successful applicants under Call 7 of the Out-of-Town Shopfront Improvement Programme, subject to the receipt of all relevant supporting documentation. Approval was also sought for the additional allocation of £35,363.77 to deliver Phase 3 on a rolling application basis, alongside revised eligibility criteria for applicants .

Members were also asked to approve 19 grant awards totalling a maximum of £70,950.83 to successful applicants under the DfC Urban Town Cente Shop Frontage Scheme, subject to the receipt and verification of all relevant supporting documentation.

Members direction was also being sought regarding membership of the Belfast City Region Place Partnership for 2027 at a cost of £15,000. Last year, the committee sought a reduced financial contribution to better reflect the level of participation from the council.