NSW Government Attracting Business Investment For Our Region

Parliamentary Secretary for the Illawarra and South Coast Gareth Ward MP has today welcomed the NSW Government’s landmark business incentive and support package that will ignite investment and create jobs in regional NSW.

Mr Ward said that the Investment Attraction Package for Regional NSW would boost the number of businesses moving to regional NSW towns by giving businesses incentives, cutting planning red tape and providing grants to skilled workers.

“This is a great initiative that will proactively seek out businesses and showcase to them the benefits of moving to a region like ours,” he said.

“Increasing the number of businesses and skilled workers across the Illawarra and South Coast region means more jobs with the beneficial flow on effect of creating more work for our local suppliers, tradies, retailers, restaurants and cafes as well as the opportunity to meet new friends and enjoy diverse cultures,” Mr Ward said.

The Investment Attraction Package for Regional NSW features:

• Regional Investment Attraction Fund – $20 million in grants and interest free loans targeted at offsetting government levies and duties, such as payroll tax, to eligible businesses that want to invest and grow in regional NSW, which will lead to new jobs.
• Skills Relocation Assistance - $10 million in grants of up to $10,000 per eligible skilled worker to help meet the cost of moving from the city to the country, such as furniture removal and temporary accommodation for up to three months.
• Investment concierge – supporting businesses investing in or moving to regional NSW, working with an appointed Regional Investment Coordinator to provide easy access to incentives, smooth the planning process, help lodge applications and liaise with government departments.
• Previously announced, ‘Special Activation Precincts’ or business hubs in areas that will offer infrastructure and streamlined planning processes for the industries and sectors responsible for driving significant growth in regions.

The NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said the Investment Attraction Package for Regional NSW is one of many programs improving infrastructure, investment, economic prosperity and connectivity across regional NSW.

“The Investment Attraction Package complements other initiatives such as our 20-year Economic Vision for Regional NSW, our $500 million Growing Local Economies fund, and the programs that are transforming regional NSW into a place where people can get great jobs, run great businesses and have a great lifestyle,” Mr Barilaro said.

“We are also working to establish Special Activation Precincts, such as the one being established in Parkes, which will attract businesses wanting to operate in locations ideally suited to their industry, supported by world class infrastructure.

“Our work to secure investment in regional NSW is about bringing more businesses to the regions, supporting existing regional businesses to expand and helping them to be successful, because success means more jobs and more money for these areas,” he concluded.

For information about the Investment Attraction Package for Regional NSW contact the Investment Concierge service, at: www.industry.nsw.gov.au/regional-investment.