E-Towns Project

E-Towns is a Shannon Development initiative to develop a "21st century model" for the ongoing and future development of smaller communities in the Shannon Region.

Its primary aim is to help disperse economic activity and job creation to smaller population centres (by stimulating the development of a complimentary enterprise culture based on the attraction of established urban micro businesses).

A number of pilot locations have been identified in the Region.  These include: Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare; Cappamore, Co. Limerick; Tarbert, Co. Kerry; and Newport Co. Tipperary.

Proposed Approach

E-Towns is a combination of five key strands that, when combined, can provide the catalyst for the development of smaller towns:

• Partnership with the community and the local authority
• Provision of tailored live/work accommodation
• Delivery of a scaleable broadband
• Provision of community animation and training
• Town Planning.

Partnership

E-Towns is a "communities-first" programme, that offer representatives from each community to be involved in the decision making process from site selection to training and website developments.

Each of the participating towns has a tripartite group with representatives from the community the Local Authority and Shannon Development, who are responsible for co-ordinating and implementing the project.

Live-Work Accommodation

Branded the "Courtyard", the physical elements of the project is a small-integrated complex of workspace and residential accommodation, consisting of a combination of detached, three storey and semi-detached houses, with wired for broadband office space.

The live-work accommodation is available for sale and targeted specifically at established micro-businesses within the traded services sector, e.g. graphic design, consultancy, web design, publishing and professional services.

Up to 12 businesses can be accommodated in each E-Town location with the long term potential of generating significant employment and local added-value.

The Town Plan

The key element in town renewal and development is the "Town Plan", which addresses and highlights issues related to infrastructure, zoning and planning.  The plan provides a framework and blueprint for the future growth of the community.

The E-Towns project recognises the importance of such a Town Plan, if the overall objectives of the project are to be delivered.  Working in conjunction with the Local Authorities, the E-Towns project provided the resources to complete such a plan for each location, as required.

Animation and Training

The opportunities offered by advances in telecommunications and information and communications technology (ICT) are also addressed in the project.

A portal website has been developed for each location, along with training for 12 community mentors who are available on a voluntary basis to give businesses, community groups, organisations and individuals the tools and support necessary to access the internet.

Telecommunications Access

Widespread access to broadband communications is an essential enabler of economic growth.  While all telecommunications providers have long-term plans for the roll-out of broadband services nationally, available solutions still gravitate towards the more densely populated urgan centres, where infrastructure and customers already exist.

For the E-Towns project to succeed, each location needs a scalable broadband solution in place.  Working in conjunction with the community and telecom service providers, Shannon Development will assist communities in implementing a commercial broadband solution to ensure access to scalable broadband services to ensure access to terrestrial broadband services.