Jobs for NSW CEO Karen Borg, left, Armidale Regional Councillor Di Gray, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Jobs for NSW Chairman David Thodey, and board members Chris Roberts, Jane Cay and Craig Dunn at the TAFE NSW Digital Lab in Armidale yesterday.
Monday, 11 December 2017
MEMBER for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has showcased the region’s capabilities to ex-Telstra Chair David Thodey and other high profile Board members from the State Government’s job creation agency, Jobs for NSW, over the weekend.
The Jobs for NSW Board was be treated to a tour of the TAFE NSW Digital Lab at TAFE NSW’s Armidale Campus yesterday and will also visit the University of New England SMART Farm Innovation Centre today for their Board meeting.
The board also received presentations from a number of leading agricultural-based and technology business in the region, all looking to expand.
“Having some of the best minds in business in town is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the fantastic innovation and business ideas happening right here in Armidale,” Mr Marshall said.
“Jobs for NSW is all about creating jobs and regional employment is earmarked as a priority space, with at least 30 per cent of the $190 million Jobs for NSW Fund targeted at rural and regional areas.
“They have already been busy in the region with investments in Armidale’s Agritech Cluster, which is working to create new growth markets for agricultural technology and in local companies including Uniplan and Boss Engineering in Inverell.
“I wanted to showcase the fantastic capabilities available in this region to the Board and help them identify more opportunities for investment in high potential, fast growing, job creating companies in and around our region.”
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said Jobs for NSW was backing eligible regional businesses with interest free loans.
“We know some of the barriers that good businesses face in getting access to finance – for instance they haven’t been trading for long enough, or they don’t have adequate security for a loan,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Jobs for NSW have introduced new Regional Growth Loans of between $200,000 and $500,000 to help where traditional lenders are unable to assist. These interest free loans target job creation with fast growth SMEs in regional NSW.”
For more information about Jobs for NSW visit www.jobsfornsw.com.au