NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Deputy Premier Paul Toole have announced the award of an additional $55.5 million in funding, leveraging $180.3 million in private investment across 69 projects across regional NSW as part of Round One of the Regional Job Creation Fund.
The Regional Job Creation Fund – which aims to create more than 6,500 new direct jobs in regional NSW over the next three years – provides co-funded grants between $100,000 and $10 million to fast track projects that enable emerging industries, help businesses expand operations or provide incentives for operations to relocate to regional NSW.
Mr Toole said a $4.8 million grant has been awarded to engineering company Simmons Global to relocate its operations from Western Australia to Narromine and create up to 253 full time local jobs.
“This funding will help deliver an advanced manufacturing precinct that produces everything from unmanned aerial drones to solar UV monitors that tell teachers when students should play in the shade, as well as help upskill local indigenous and youth workers through apprenticeships,” Mr Toole said.
“This will drive the creation of hundreds of new jobs right here in the Central West.”
Simmons Global CEO and Group Technical Director David Simmons said the Regional Job Creation Fund grant is providing the company with the opportunity boost the state’s advanced manufacturing sector.
“Narromine is the ideal location to establish a manufacturing facility for the wide array of advanced technology devices we will produce and I would like to thank the NSW Government for supporting our group and helping us transition our manufacturing back onshore to New South Wales,” Mr Simmons said.
According to the NSW Government’s statement, other companies receiving support in the latest round include storage and production upgrades for a winery in Cudal, an innovative recycling facility in Kurri Kurri and upgrades for a family owned and operated sheet metal manufacturer in Narrabri.
