Repurposed PGF seeking to redeploy displaced workers

9th April 2020 By Staff Reporter | news@tourismticker.com | @tourismticker

The Government’s Provincial Development Unit is seeking projects that can immediately support employment for the repurposed Provincial Growth Fund.

The new criteria included:

• Immediate support for the redeployment of displaced employees into critical sectors including horticulture and manufacturing in the immediate term, and later through public works activities
• National programmes delivered across all regions that would provide support for employment and community resilience into the longer term, such as apprenticeships
• Business investments that would generate job creation opportunities in the short term and support the rebuild of the economy beyond the recovery, particularly in the primary sector and manufacturing
• Infrastructure investments under $10m that would support employment in the short term and strengthen fundamental infrastructure in surge regions.

Regional economic development minister Shane Jones said PDU officials were contacting PGF applicants and fund recipients to gather information on which projects would be able to continue, despite the impacts of Covid-19.

Of those projects, which could be scaled up, accelerated, or refined to “more usefully contribute to the Government’s Covid-19 response”, said Jones.

Ministers would receive advice about which projects could be prioritised.

The PGF would be “busier than ever” as it provided financial support for the regions, including key projects within the $100m worker redeployment package announced last month.