Our Rural Future: Minister Humphreys officially opens Stranorlar’s DigiHub at The BASE Enterprise Centre

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD, has officially opened the new DigiHub at The BASE Enterprise Centre in Stranorlar.

The DigiHub, which received funding through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Connected Hubs Fund, was developed by the Western Development Commission in partnership with Donegal County Council and local social enterprise, BASICC.

It is also the latest Hub to receive free SIRO powered one Gigabit broadband connection, provided by Vodafone.

It has a range of options available for remote workers, start-ups and established businesses with hot desk and start-up space on flexible arrangements, office units of various sizes, training facilities, and a range of meeting rooms.

The development of digital hubs in rural areas is a key goal of ‘Our Rural Future’ the Government’s new rural development strategy, which aims to revitalise towns and villages, promote remote working, and ensure balanced regional development.

Speaking at the opening of the DigiHub, Minister Humphreys said:

“This fine facility is one of four digital hubs along the Western Seaboard that received almost €650,000 under my Department’s Rural Regeneration Development Fund.

“All four of these hubs are members of the Connected Hubs initiative, which is the Department’s platform of mapping together all of the hubs across the country so that they belong to one single network.

“The Connected Hubs Network continues to grow with 140 hubs now active members with this number growing every single week.

“To support the continued development of this network, I recently announced over €8.5 million euro in funding through the Connected Hubs fund.

“And I was delighted to see €67,000 of this funding awarded to this facility in Stranorlar to support further expansion later this year.”

Western Development Commission CEO, Tomás Ó Síocháin commented:

“The Base is a focal point and a driver for economic and community development in Stranorlar.

“As part of the national connectedhubs.ie network, The Base offers remote workers cutting edge facilities and excellent connectivity on their doorstep, the opportunity to both build a career in the northwest and improve their quality of life.”