The NSW Government has launched the next round of its Regional Job Creation Fund, further driving productivity and growth for local businesses, attracting new regional investments and boosting job security in Regional NSW.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the $100 million Regional Job Creation Fund Round 3 will provide grants for regional businesses to expand their operations and attract interstate and international businesses to relocate to regional NSW.
“The Regional Job Creation Fund will create 6500 jobs across key industries, and this new round will build on that by attracting additional advanced manufacturing capability to our regions,” Minister Toole said.
During a visit to Cape Byron Distillery at Byron Bay, Minister Toole said the grants would allow businesses to boost production lines, deliver new equipment and embrace future technologies to drive efficiencies and productivity.
“We’ve already seen the difference this fund is making to regional businesses, including Cape Byron Distillery, which received $240,000 from the program to expand its production line and create 12 full-time jobs,” he said.
According to Minister Toole, almost 200 businesses have been able to benefit from the fund in previous rounds, generating more than $360 million of private investment into regional NSW.
The NSW Government now plans to build on the investments by opening Expressions of Interest (EOI) for their next round of funding.
“This Fund is doing exactly what it was designed to do – creating jobs in regional NSW that support the economic growth of our regions and ensure business confidence from Bourke to Byron Bay,” Minister Toole said.
Businesses eligible for the fund can apply for grants of between $100,000 and $10 million for projects such as replacing plant equipment, investing in innovation and ensuring businesses that might otherwise have to relocate can remain based in regional areas.
Expressions of Interest for Round Three of the Regional Job Creation Fund open on Friday, 13 January 2023 and close 5pm Monday, 6 March 2023. Successful EOI applicants will be invited to submit detailed applications from May 2023.
Source: NSW Government media release. Content has been edited for style and length.