Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Local Economic Partnership (ABC LEP) has launched its Action Plan 2025-2028, setting out a clear roadmap to support economic growth, business development and job creation across the borough.
Established in June 2025, the ABC LEP brings together key organisations from across local government, business, education and the community and voluntary sector to identify barriers to economic development and deliver targeted interventions that will support long-term prosperity across the region.
Funded through the Department for the Economy’s Regional Balance Fund, the partnership has been allocated £4.5 million over the period April 2025 to March 2028. The Action Plan outlines a series of locally focused initiatives designed to address economic challenges while contributing to wider regional priorities including creating good jobs, increasing productivity, addressing regional imbalance and supporting decarbonisation.
Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon, Alderman Stephen Moutray said: “Launching this Action Plan marks an important milestone for our borough and demonstrates the strength of partnership working across the public, private, education and community sectors.
“This investment provides a significant opportunity to address local economic challenges, support business growth and help create sustainable jobs for the people of our borough. The Action Plan reflects the ambition we have for our borough and our commitment to ensuring all parts of the region can benefit from economic opportunity and growth.”
Developed collaboratively through a series of action planning workshops between August and November 2025, the plan focuses on three key themes – Land Availability and Development, Business Workspace Development and Supporting Business Growth.
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald commented: “Local Economic Partnerships represent a new, locally led, collaborative approach to economic development, with a clear mission to deliver a more regionally balanced economy where everyone shares in the benefits of prosperity.
I firmly believe that local challenges are best addressed through local solutions, and I look forward to seeing the delivery of this Action Plan and the positive economic impacts it will bring to the area.”
The partnership includes representatives from Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Local Enterprise Partners, Southern Regional College, the Community Planning Community and Voluntary Sector Panel, the Labour Market Partnership and ABC Business Partnership Alliance.
