The Goulburn Mulwaree region will benefit from a University of Wollongong (UOW) initiative to boost economic resilience and create jobs, after UOW’s business incubator and accelerator iAccelerate was awarded $999,570 from the Federal and NSW governments’ combined Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund (BLER).
The project, led by UOW’s iAccelerate, will deliver education programs to support 90 of the most promising entrepreneurs and business owners in bushfire affected areas to create 300 new jobs.
Goulburn Mulwaree is one of six local government areas to be included in the program, after engaging with iAccelerate and providing a letter of support for the application. The program is also being rolled out in the Bega Valley Shire, Eurobodalla Shire, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Snowy Monaro, Wingecarribee Shire, as well as four Local Aboriginal Land Councils.
“This is very exciting news for the businesses and entrepreneurs of our region, who will be able to tap into the brilliant programs and experience offered by iAccelerate to help them take the next step” said Mayor Bob Kirk, who went on to say that the model has already delivered strong results in regional NSW through the Bega Valley Innovation Hub.
Chris Petersilge, iAccelerate Ecosystem Evangelist said that in addition to increasing economic resilience, the program will also help to keep young people in the regions by providing employment and business opportunities.
“Having launched the Bega Valley Innovation Hub in NSW’s far South Coast, iAccelerate is familiar with the challenges and opportunities faced with supporting regional entrepreneurs. With over a decade of creating new industries and over 700 jobs in Wollongong, we’re ready to bring this model created in the Bega Valley to more bushfire-affected areas.”
UOW Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) Professor Jennifer L Martin congratulated the iAccelerate team on the announcement, saying, “UOW continues to foster innovation through providing leading entrepreneurial education programs. I look forward to seeing the roll out of the iAccelerate Activate program to bushfire-affected areas to create new jobs in the regions”.
