This new, bigger, and farther-reaching higher education institution will serve the communities of counties including Westmeath, Limerick, Tipperary, Clare and Offaly. Through its support for industry and communities, the TU will make its regions more attractive for indigenous small businesses and foreign investment, by linking to opportunities in knowledge creation and innovation. This in turn will contribute to viable and vibrant communities. These communities can offer an economically and socially-desirable regional counterbalance in the Irish heartlands. With its urban hubs and regional campuses, the new TU can provide a key strategic corridor between rural communities, towns and cities.