Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is delighted to announce that applications are now open for the Sister Cities Student Exchange Programme 2022. This cross-community programme, which has been running since 2000, aims to provide Antrim and Newtownabbey’s young adults with an opportunity to travel to Gilbert, Arizona during the summer.

Two students will be selected to participate in the programme from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough.  The first part of the programme involves the two students travelling to the USA to spend three weeks being home hosted by their matched student.  They will be given a wonderful opportunity to learn about their hosts’ local cultures and customs in ways not available to a casual visitor. 

At the end of the three weeks, the Gilbert students will return with our students to be home hosted in Antrim and Newtownabbey.  During their stay, they will have a chance to closely experience a new culture and make lifelong friends by living with the family of their exchange student. 

All travel expenses for the Programme will be covered by the Council, however students are expected to provide their own passports and spending money. Applications must be submitted by 10 January 2022.

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey Councillor Billy Webb said “I am delighted that we are able to work with our sister city, Gilbert in Arizona again this year.  This is a fabulous opportunity for our young adults to experience a new Country and culture, Right at the heart of the local community.  I also look forward to welcoming students from Gilbert when they arrive to stay with one of our families next year.  I am sure they will have a great time with so many exciting things to see and do in our Borough”.

If you or someone you know would like to take part in this exciting opportunity, visit here for more information, eligibility criteria and how to apply.

There was great news for Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough in Budget Announcement as two bids from the Council to the Levelling Up Fund for regeneration projects in Glengormley and Antrim were awarded a total of £5.1m. The schemes are part of an overall investment of £49 million secured for Northern Ireland under the first round of the fund.

The Glengormley Integrated Physical and Economic Regeneration Project will receive £3.9m, and the Antrim Integrated Physical and Economic Regeneration Project £1.2m, which will contribute to the overall cost of these significant regeneration schemes.

Each of the projects has a number of separate elements which delivered collectively will create jobs, drive footfall back into the town centres and provide high quality, modern office/workspace facilities to accommodate start up and grown on businesses. Both schemes are also designed to improve connectivity, making it easier to access the town centres and providing an attractive, welcoming environment that will encourage people to stay longer and visit more often.

The Glengormley Project includes:

• Development of office (workspace) on the former police station site (following planned demolition in November 2021);
• Shop front facades for the main block from Creative Tiles to the Movie House, alongside a remodelling and upgrade of the car parking and creation of a one-way system; and
• A Public Realm Scheme.

The overall scheme represents an investment of over £17.4million over it is 30-year project life.

The Antrim Project includes:

• Creation of office/workspace on the first floor at 55-59 High Street.
• Extension of the boardwalk as per approved planning permission; and
• Opening up of the rear of this property to create a Riverfront Regeneration scheme as a catalyst for other properties to do the same;

The overall scheme represents an investment of over £8 million it is 30-year project life.

The Council is also committed to bring forward future bids for the other town centres and has secured £125,000 of technical assistance funding from the Treasury to support the preparation of these schemes.

Welcoming the announcement, Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Billy Webb, said: “This is fantastic news for the Borough, especially Glengormley and Antrim. These projects will bring investment, growth, and jobs, boosting our local economy as we continue to recover from the challenges of the past couple of years. Receiving all that we bid for, over £5m, is a sign of the strength of the case we made, and I look forward to working with the Treasury, our central government departments and the private sector to bring these projects to fruition.”