Government funding to boost local jobs
Local businesses and organisations have been encouraged to apply for funding under a new program that aims to boost local jobs.
Gippsland is one of 10 regions across Australia chosen to participate in the federal government’s new Regional Employment Trials Program that aims to boost local jobs.
The 21-month initiative will see $1 million allocated to the Gippsland region through the Local Employment Initiative Fund.
The program will provide grants of between $7500 and $200,000 to local businesses, notfor-profit organisations and local government agencies for employment related projects.
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Gippsland chairman Richard Elkington encouraged organisations to apply.
“Gippsland is a beautiful part of our state, but we have our challenges just like any other region throughout Australia and unemployment is one of them.
“Gippsland is one of only two Victorian regions selected for the trial and we will be taking full advantage of this opportunity to work with local businesses, employment networks, not-for-profits and government agencies to create projects that can lead to real jobs and real work experience,” he said.
The RDA Gippsland committee will help identify employment projects that align with the local needs of Gippsland and will play a key role in assessing applications.
Gippsland’s employment facilitator Luke Arber will be available to provide guidance and advice to local stakeholders wishing to apply for funding through the program to address local employment challenges.
“By trialling local approaches to local employment issues, we can mobilise and utilise skills already on the ground and strengthen Gippsland’s economy in the short and long term,” Mr Arber said.
The trial will run until June 30, 2020 and applications are now open via https://www.business.gov.au/assistance/regio nal-employment-trials
In further support of the region, the federal government has announced $200 million in grant funding as part of round three of the Building Better Regions Fund.
Local organisations across Gippsland are encouraged to apply and help channel more investment into the Gippsland economy.
Almost $5 million has already been allocated to infrastructure and community projects across Gippsland through rounds one and two of the Building Better Regions Fund.
There are two streams of funding available and interested organisations are urged to contact RDA Gippsland for a letter of support for their project to meet the November 15 deadline.
For more information, contact RDA Gippsland for application assistance and to discuss project ideas (5116 7300).
District 9, which covers Baw Baw, South Gippsland and parts of Bass Coast shire councils will be under the fire danger period from Monday, November 19, 2018.
FDPs are based on local conditions and take into account fuel moisture, fuel loads, grassland curing, weather and rainfall.
District nine operations manager Trevor Roberts said the recommendation to introduce FDPs in District 9 municipalities was timely as grassland curing was averaging near 70 per cent (cured) across parts of the District, and forests were even drier.
During the FDP, fires cannot be lit in the open air without a written permit from CFA or a Municipal Fire Prevention Officer.
The penalties for lighting a fire in the open air during the FDP without a permit can be up to $19,342.80 and/or 12 months imprisonment; penalties double for fires lit on days of Total Fire Ban Days.
For more information on FDPs and what is permitted during the period, visit www.cfa.vic.gov.au