Executive Summary

Waterford County Council has prioritised Economic Development.  A combination of infrastructure investment, sustainable and innovative land use zoning policies, inter-agency cooperation and a can-do approach to economic development has improved the attractiveness of County Waterford as a place to invest.  These actions yielded immediate results with significant industrial, retail and commercial leisure investment attracted to the County. 

More recently, County Waterford has not been immune to the affects of the global and national economic downturn.  Unemployment has risen significantly in the County, and many businesses face a considerable challenge in sustaining their profitability and levels of employment.  Thus, it is incumbent on Waterford County Council along with the partner development agencies, to continue to focus on the economic development of the County. 

This Economic Plan clearly sets out the priority actions that are designed to enhance the competitiveness of County Waterford as a business location that will sustain jobs and accommodate the evolving knowledge economy.  The County Waterford Model for Economic Growth brings together seven interlinked goals.