Deputy Premier hits up Mid North Coast

Photo: Kempsey Shire Council

Small businesses in Kempsey are set to receive a $50,000 boost towards their efforts to embrace the digital economy.

Deputy Premier and Minister for regional development John Barliaro announce the money in Smith Street this morning.

Kempsey is one of 20 towns across NSW to receive the investment, as part of the Future Towns program, and the Deputy Premier says it was selected to help promote jobs growth in the wake of the Pacific Highway bypass.

"The funding announced today will attract new businesses to regional towns and ensure existing businesses take full advantage of the rollout of the NBN,” he said. 

"If small business is to embrace technology and have a digital presence, there is something like $5 billion in the current economy that they can attract."

Later today, Mr Barilaro will mark the start of TAFE NSW's Open Week in Nambucca Heads, meeting with students starting their careers in the construction industry on the mid-north coast Pacific Highway upgrades.

“In Nambucca we have a pop-up civil construction facility with a new cohort of students starting today. This an example of TAFE NSW providing training opportunities for locals to get a job working on the Pacific Highway upgrades," the Deputy Premier said ahead of the meeting. 

The Nambucca site is a partnership between TAFE NSW, TEAM training and Nambucca Shire Council, and is part of a statewide campaign that aims to get 500 students employed in 500 days.  The tally is currently at 157 jobs.