Our aim is to address the imbalances and issues facing the both local economies, both Ballymoney and Drumshanbo are dependant on a relatively low skills base economy and a small number of export businesses.This programme plans to maximise the economic regeneration and development benefits derived from workspace developments, in part through operating an intensively fast track management business acceleration service. Achievements: 30 food companies benefited from trade development support, mentoring and networking under the specialist cross border programme, the Food Business Acceleration Programme. The project promoters – The Food Hub (Drumshanbo Community Council Ltd) in Co. Leitrim and Acorn, (The Business Centre in Co. Antrim) – are delighted with the outcomes achieved under the programme since its inception in October 2006. Fergal McPartland, Project Co-ordinator in Drumshanbo explai ns, ‘’the programme has been instrumental in assisting the development and growth of 30 food companies north and south through business mentoring which has developed cross border & international export sales and has delivered a wide range of technical and financial advice to participants”. Ntable successes of the project include the launch of Glenview Foods, a potato chip manufacturer in North Antrim, in the Republic of Ireland market through a distribution agreement with a distributor in Co. Louth; the growth of Lough Allen Foods, a fresh ready meal producer based in The Food Hub in Co. Leitrim and the development of significant export sales in the Middle East for dairy producer, Fayrefield Foods. Raymond Todd of Glenview Foods said: “The Business Acceleration Programmeoffered us an excellent range of services which provided us with the support to develop the product in new markets and achieve increased sales”.The promoters are delighted with the creation of 17 new jobs and significant sales development with the 30 companies over the course of the programme.