Small business key to economic recovery

Carla Lockhart MP • January 23, 2022

Local MP Carla Lockhart has joined with Upper Bann MLAs Jonathan Buckley and Diane Dodds in welcoming Economy Minister Gordon Lyons MLA to the constituency for engagements with a number of local businesses, and Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Council. The Minister visited Kitchen Bakes and Statement Menswear in Portadown.

Carla Lockhart said:

 

“The Economy Minister, Gordon Lyons, is no stranger to Upper Bann and I have had the pleasure of his company in many engagements and visits to local business. Gordon is a great supporter of the family business, and the massive impact of the Spend Local NI scheme that he has managed as Minister has been a huge boost for our High Street. From speaking to local businesses the scheme has provided a great injection of cashflow that was so badly needed after lockdown and the impact of the pandemic in general.

 

We now need to see support for business for continued recovery, and in this regard it was good to both engage with Kitchen Bakes and Statement Menswear to grasp their ideas for future support, but also to engage with local Council to see how Council and the Executive can work in tandem to drive economic recovery and regeneration.

 

I will continue to champion the needs of our business community and am thankful for a Minister who shares my passion for jobs and growth in this area. I thank Gordon for taking the time to visit again and know it will not be long before we see him again here in Upper Bann.”

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