Words & images I City of Mandurah
Industry, private investments and businesses that can create more jobs and contribute to Mandurah’s economic agenda are being encouraged to apply for funding through an exciting new grants program now open.
The new Restart Mandurah Now — Industry and Business Incentive Scheme, funded through the $5 million Restart Mandurah package, aims to entice businesses and industry to mobilise and expand in Mandurah to help the city’s struggling economy. The City of Mandurah is committing $1 million over two years to attract and boost private investment to deliver projects with economic benefits to the local community. The City is specifically seeking initiatives that support local job creation, industry diversification and business sustainability.
Mayor Rhys Williams said the new scheme focused on one of the community’s biggest priorities — the economy, and was another way the City was helping to restart Mandurah from the impacts of COVID-19.
“Our local economy has felt the full brunt of the fallout from the pandemic, and we know there are many businesses doing it tough at the moment,” Mayor Williams said.
“The Restart Mandurah business grants program focuses our efforts on our economic recovery which is key in plans to Restart and Transform Mandurah for our future.
“We know that businesses play a crucial and transformative role in building thriving communities and local job prospects. We want to attract investment from various sized businesses to help deliver our economic agenda for Mandurah and the city centre, which is to build business sustainability, resilience and capacity to make our future the best it can be.
“We already have exciting works underway with the Mandurah Waterfront project and the first stages of our Transform Mandurah vision, so this presents a unique chance to proactively promote investment opportunities that build a better Mandurah and help us achieve our goals.”
The Restart Mandurah Now — Industry and Business Incentive Scheme has three funding streams:
1. Ready Now
Business Capability Fund
A Business Capability Fund aimed at improving the number of local businesses that can participate as suppliers of goods, services and works to the City of Mandurah and the market in general.
Applications for grants up to $15,000 are now open.
2. Grow Now and Invest Now
Investment Attraction Program
Investment Attraction Programs aimed at increasing investment in and development of Mandurah’s economy to diversify and grow Mandurah’s economy employment through jobs, industries and enterprise.
Applications for Grow Now grants up to $50,000 and EOIs for Invest Now are now open.
Both streams’ objectives and criteria are the same, however the Invest Now EOIs are for larger projects with a value of over $50,000.
3. Activate Now
City Centre Business Incentive Program
A City Centre Business Incentive Program aimed at Increasing business investment in City Centre and improving the quality and scale of unique offerings to increase foot traffic and add vibrancy to the City Centre during the day and night.
Applications for grants up to $15,000 are now open.
All grants require up to 50 per cent matched funding by the applicant, which demonstrates the business’ commitment to the project, event or activity. Applications for the 2020–21 financial year must be submitted by 31 March, 2021.
The overall Restart Mandurah Now program is funded through the City’s Restart Mandurah Fund ($350,000pa for two years) and $150,000pa from already budgeted City Centre business-led partnership project funds.
MANDURAH’S NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TASKFORCE
Alan Cransberg, Professor Lyn Beazley, Myrianthe Riddy, William (Bill) Hames and Mayor Rhys Williams.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information go to:
www.mandurah.wa.gov.au/business/business-training-and-support/economicgrants
This article was first published in the Spring/Summer 2020 edition of Peel magazine – read the full article and, if you haven’t already, download the latest edition of the Peel magazine here