Minister for Regional Development, Territories and Local Government John McVeigh and Gilmore MP Ann Sudmalis launched the $220 million initiative, designed to stimulate job creation and investment in regional Australia, in Nowra on Wednesday.

Twenty three local projects across the South Coast with benefit by close to $20 million in grants, of which $13.8m are Shoalhaven based.

It will lead to a combined $55 million worth of investment locally from the Commonwealth and private sector.

Businesses and organisations receiving grants range widely from high tech industrial projects, through to food and powdered milk production, care services, expansion of the Manildra Group’s operation at Bomaderry, electrical car charging facilities at Silos Estate, Jaspers Brush and two Shoalhaven City Council marine/wharf projects.

Businesses from Berry down to Moruya have been successful in gaining grants.

The minister said the initiative was part of the Coalition Government’s commitment to drive economic growth and job creation in Australia’s regions – backing local businesses, their workers and their families.

“A range of high-quality, potential initiatives were identified through an extensive assessment process paired with community input – resulting in locally driven decisions, delivering 23 job creating projects along the South Coast,” Dr McVeigh said.

“The Coalition delivered 42,000 new jobs in regional NSW last year. We understand the benefits that flow from greater employment opportunities and that’s why it is very pleasing to see that this announcement will help generate more than 350 jobs during construction and nearly 640 ongoing jobs.

“We’re focussed on delivering a strong economy and thanks to this package, we have been able to partner with the private sector to deliver almost $55 million to the local economy, which means more spending, more opportunities and of course, more jobs.”

Mrs Sudmalis said more than 60 applications were received for the pilot program, highlighting the importance of this initiative to local communities in supporting business and strengthening the economy.

“This is exciting at all levels and it means job, more local jobs,” she said.

“I cannot be more delighted.

“For Shoalhaven businesses to receive $13.8 million is fantastic.”

One of the grant recipients, the Cottee Group will receive almost $3 million.

“That will allow them to expand their current facility in Bomaderry, enhancing competitiveness and processing capacity, which will help springboard more world-class produce from the paddocks of the South Coast to the kitchens’ dining rooms and lunch boxes across the nation,” Ms Sudmalis said.

“The Cottee Family has been a bedrock of the South Coast for more than five generations, this support allows the business to maintain its competitiveness and celebrate its long and successful history.”

Other recipients include a state-of-the-art shellfish hatchery, an in-country LM-STAR Avionics Automated Test System to maintain the Australian Air Force’s F35 Lightning aircraft, and a range of tourism projects.

“These projects will provide hundreds of new jobs and a stronger economy across the region for years to come,” Mrs Sudmalis said.

Wednesday’s announcement was made at South Nowra business Stormtech in the Finders Industrial Estate, which is already acknowledged as the global leader and inventor of the Linear Shower Drainage.

“We are taking it back to the world to develop a centre of excellence for stainless steel fabrication,” said owner Troy Creighton.

“We are also going to be working on establishing a low skill entry into the stainless industry where we can bring people with no skill and finish them up with an high level of skill in fabrication they can take globally.

“This grant gives us the opportunity to bring our ideas forward. And some of the ideas we would have had to shelve, possibly indefinitely. And never go ahead.

“It really gives us a leg up to get things going the way they should be to develop world class, world beating technologies.”