Narrabri Shire Council has secured much-needed funding under the latest round of the Government’s Energise Enterprise program.
Member for Parkes Mark Coulton and Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries said this vital support will help community organisations invest in new opportunities and stimulate jobs growth.
“This federally funded program delivered in partnership with the State Government is assisting communities impacted by water buybacks and helping to diversify their economies and transition to other non-irrigated industries,” Mr Coulton said.
Mr Coulton said the Narrabri Shire Council has been awarded $25,000 for the North West Rural Training Centre.
“The objective of the project is to create a business plan to design a community training hub facility located in Narrabri Shire. The hub will be an open access facility and enable increased access to higher education,” Mr Coulton said.
Mr Humphries said Narrabri businesses will also benefit from a further $25,000 that has been awarded to the Careers Network Incorporated for their Youth Industry Connections project.
“Interactive information sessions will be held with employers, training organisations, community organisations and the broader community with a focus on youth, to strengthen knowledge of training, growth and innovation within Narrabri, Moree, Inverell, Gunnedah and Quirindi,” Mr Humphries said.
“These projects will bring significant economic benefits to the region, which will help ensure we have a thriving local economy for years to come,” Mr Humphries added.
Federal Minister for Regional Development Fiona Nash said that the Coalition Government was committed to basin communities doing it tough as a result of the Murray Darling Basin Plan and the Murray-Darling Basin Regional Economic Diversification Program, as well as the cap on water buybacks, represents this strong commitment.
“As a Minister who is based in the Basin, I understand just how vital it is to protect both the economic and social interests of Basin communities,” Ms Nash said.
“The Coalition is committed to investing in projects like this that will diversify and strengthen the local economy.”
New South Wales Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional Development, Skills and Small Business, John Barilaro, said the Energise Enterprise fund has been designed specifically to help regional communities create local jobs and to find new ways of investing and doing business.
“This funding provides support which will ensure the future of local regional communities, where our spouses have a place to work, our children can attend a good school and where the local grocer will still greet us with a smile when we do our weekly shop,” said Mr Barilaro.
“Many projects already funded from previous rounds of the Murray Darling Basin Regional Economic Diversification Program are delivering great results for local communities, and I congratulate the recipients on the hard work they continue to put in to secure this funding.”
Media Contacts
For Minister Nash: Les White 0409 805 122
For Mr Barilaro: Kailee Shaw 0408 389 549
For Mark Coulton Amy Welham 0448 477 830
For Kevin Humphries Penelope Merriman 02 6792 1422
