Partnership Court

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• Partnership Court
• John Butler Bob Wilson

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Partnership Court

• This is the story of how Dundalk Employment
  Partnership developed a derelict site in the
  centre of Dundalk into a 22,000 sq ft Enterprise
  Centre.
• The centre provides employment for about 100
  people and generates income which the Partnership
  uses for the benefit of the community
• This is how we got from..

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Then.
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Then.
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Then.
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Then.
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Now.
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Now.
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Now.
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Now.
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Now
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Partnership Court

• In 1994 Dept of Taoiseach made funding available
  for infrastructural projects
• The Partnership Board saw the potential to
  develop a derelict site which was an eyesore in
  the centre of Dundalk.
• A partnership team with considerable expertise
  was established to turn the idea into reality
• Funding was secured and planning permission
  sought

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Context

• A Partnership developing an Enterprise Centre was
  breaking new ground in the 90s
• There was very little money about and
  unemployment was very high
• Because of the economic situation there were many
  derelict buildings in the area
• It was therefore a brave decision to proceed and
  the project had to be self financing

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Funding sources

• International Fund for Ireland the catalyst
• Department of the Taoiseach
• The European Union
• Local Development Programme
• FAS (Built industrial units under a CYTP
  Programme)
• Total cost of project 1.54m
• Borrowings of 0.59m

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Partnership the key

• All the partners working together was the key to
  the success of the development
• Would not have happened if the Partnership did
  not exist
• Board members prepared to take the risk to borrow
  
• Board members identified key anchor tenants
• Members of the Development Team gave their time
  and expertise free of charge because of the
  Partnership

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Priorities

• Provision of a mixed development commercial
  non commercial
• Providing a creche and a community office - non
  commercial
• Provision of start up units non commercial
• Development of a high quality complex that would
  hopefully encourage more development
• Provision of offices for the Partnership and
  related activities
• Income generation to pay off loan importance of
  anchor tenants

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Tenants

• Dundalk Employment Partnership
• Dundalk Local Employment Service
• Louth County Enterprise Board
• Dundalk Job Initiative
• The Argus Newspaper
• Dundalk FM100
• Gerry Heany Bakery
• Hagim Gas
• The Community Office
• Other tenants renting small units

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Flagship Project

• Partnership Court is seen as a flagship project
  by the funding agencies and has been visited by
  Ambassadors, senior politicians and officials
  from Australia, USA, Canada and the EU
• It was the catalyst for much of the subsequent
  development in Park Street Dundalk and for the
  improvements to the Ramparts river which flows
  behind the development

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ThenRamparts River
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Now.Ramparts River Creche
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Now.Ramparts river
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Ramparts development
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Hagim Gas
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Hagim Gas
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Community Office
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Community Office
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Community Office
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Little Partners Creche
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Little Partners Creche
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Little Partners Creche
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Little Partners Creche
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Today.

• Debt fully paid off ahead of schedule
• Partnership has a significant asset that enables
  it to contribute to the community
• High quality offices and meeting space owned by
  the community
• This is a result of the courage and vision of the
  Board

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Success because

• Local people supporting their own community.
  Dundalk people committed to Dundalk
• Determination to make things happen to make a
  difference to improve Dundalk
• Experienced people on the Board gave their
  expertise and time free because of the
  Partnership
• The Development Team drove the initiative and Bob
  Wilson who was the Partnership Chair at the time
  will say a few words about the project management
  side.

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A Successful Project

• An interesting mix of skills in the Partnership
• John has dealt with the background to the
  decision to build Partnership Court
• Project was successful, arrived on time, inside
  budget and was completed to a very high standard
• How did this happen? As John has said local
  Partnerships building Enterprise Centres in the
  mid 90s was a new experience

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Developing the Project

• Dedicated planning sub-group of the Board was
  formed
• It included members with considerable experience
  of managing and financing projects in the private
  sector where cost overruns tended not to be
  acceptable
• The Planning sub-group also included community
  and state sector representatives whose expertise
  contributed very significantly to the success of
  the project
• Very fortunate to have the Partner in our
  Auditing firm on the planning group where he gave
  freely of his time

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The process

• Firms of architects asked to submit proposals and
  best one selected
• Detailed specification of requirements and
  standards set out
• Very tight financial controls introduced
• The wouldnt it be nice syndrome was outlawed
  from the outset!

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The process

• Hands on project management
• No leaving the job to consultants with the Chief
  Executive becoming a spectator
• Chief Executive intimately involved with the
  detail of the project on a daily basis
• Dedicated project group met weekly and reviewed
  an agenda of criteria with the architect and the
  builder
• A firm grip was kept on timing, costs and work
  standards

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The process

• We had our own man on the site an experienced
  site engineer who kept a firm grip on the builder
  and suppliers
• He was able to do that while working on a part
  time basis and he attended the weekly project
  meetings

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In retrospect.

• Partnership Court was completed to a very high
  standard in 1995
• It remains a very fine centre today, maintained
  with obvious pride
• As a member of the project team it is gratifying
  to see the way it is used by the wider community
  in Dundalk