A major international IT company is set to call Bathurst home, bringing hundreds of jobs and training and education opportunities for high school and university students, thanks to the NSW Government’s Regional Job Creation Fund.
Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional NSW and Member for Bathurst Paul Toole said a $2.7 million grant will help IBM Australia establish a Regional Innovation Centre at Charles Sturt University, in the State’s Central West, creating hundreds of jobs in the region in the next three years.
Mr Toole said IBM setting up shop in Bathurst will give working age people and younger generations employment opportunities that may not have existed in regional areas in the past.
“The NSW Government’s investment in this project and the work that’s gone on behind the scenes by the Department of Regional NSW to help bring it to life will deliver greater job opportunities that support the next generation of regional workers without having to cross the mountains,” Mr Toole said.
“IBM offers training, education and mentoring programs for young people and with Charles Sturt University close by, a world of opportunities will be opened up for students and graduates.”
Mr Toole said the $130 million Regional Job Creation Fund aims to create more than 6,500 new direct jobs in regional NSW by providing incentives to expand and keep operations in regional areas.
“Regional NSW is the engine room of the state and helping companies like IBM Australia expand its operations into a regional area will grow the local economy, boost livelihoods and create local employment opportunities,” Mr Toole said.
“Providing businesses with the opportunity to fast track their growth plans and expand their operations means they can increase their production, attract more investment and create new jobs today, which is great news for the local economy.
“Setting businesses up for success helps the local community grow and new jobs mean more people earning a wage and spending their pay packets in local stores, cafés, restaurants and on local goods and services.”
The Regional Job Creation Fund supports eligible businesses with grants to purchase new equipment, expand facilities, acquire technology, create new production lines or establish businesses in regional NSW.
Round one of the Regional Job Creation Fund has now closed. A second round will open in early 2022. For more information, go to: investregionalnsw.com/RJCFund.
