Anderton announces latest round of funding to boost regions

The Minister for Regional and Industry Development, Jim Anderton, today announced the results of a new round of Industry New Zealand funding for regional initiatives.

“Strong regional growth means a strong national economy,” said Mr Anderton.
New Zealand’s economy can only perform to it’s full potential if all our regions and industries are performing he said.
“The funding announced today means the regions will see concrete, practical measures being undertaken to make sure they get the kind of economic development and jobs growth they need,” said Mr Anderton.

The funding was announced under Industry New Zealand’s Regional Partnership Programme. The programme provides guidance and funding to assist regions identify and develop sustainable, economic growth strategies and put those strategies into action.

Regions that received for project funding are (all figures are gst inclusive):
Strategic Planning:
·Kapiti/Horowhenua, $21,882 to research opportunities from tourism
Capability Building:
·Kapiti/Horowhenua, $33,165 to conduct a scan of potential and existing cluster industries
·Eastern Bay of Plenty, $65,000 to assist in the establishment of a regional economic development agency
·Wairarapa, $11,250 to help fund regional economic summit
·Auckland Regional Partnership, $500,000 to implement its economic development strategy

”The effectiveness of our commitment to the regions can be demonstrated by the fact that all the regions of New Zealand are in positive growth mode, half at over four per cent,” said Mr Anderton