$450K in grants to support jobs and business growth

A transition to clean energy, developing solutions to grow a circular economy and connecting refugees to career pathways have received funding under City of Newcastle's Community Support Grants Program.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the annual grants program will direct much-needed funds into developing opportunities in the local economy as the city emerges from a lengthy COVID-19 lockdown.

"Our community is recovering from the recent lockdown and City of Newcastle's annual Community Support Grants Program, along with the Infrastructure Grant Program, will inject over $450,000 directly into the local economy including targeted support to create more jobs and build business opportunities," Cr Nelmes said.

"We've supported a number of community-minded projects, including Hunter Jobs Alliance's clean energy engagement initiative and a unique social inclusion project that will support our community post-lockdown."

Hunter Jobs Alliance Coordinator, Warrick Jordan, said the Clean Energy Transition Community Engagement Program will prepare the community for the changes and opportunities that will arise as Newcastle transitions to clean energy.

“This financial boost will go a long way towards building understanding of how locals want to create a safe and sustainable future” said Mr Jordan.

Image: (L-R) Global Table Collective Coordinator, Ruth Anagnostis, Circular Economy Coordinator for Go Circular, Bianca Bartlett, Circular Economy Lead for Go Circular, Tim Baker, Hunter Jobs Alliance Coordinator, Warrick Jordan and Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes

The Global Table Collective, which provides opportunities for women from refugee and multicultural backgrounds, has also received grant funding. This initiative builds skills and experience in the catering of food from their countries of origin to build social connections and job readiness for a future career in the local hospitality industry.

Financial support has also been directed to Go Circular’s Hunter 100: Circular Economy Youth Leadership Project which harnesses young people's passion to protect our climate by providing them with the skills, networks, and confidence to solve problems around transitioning to a regenerative circular economy. The program pioneers career opportunities for emerging students in the Hunter.

In August, City of Newcastle announced the expansion of the Community and Economic Resilience Package, which will see at least $10 million invested into the local economy and the creation of hundreds of local jobs through an expanded capital works program.

City of Newcastle has funded training initiatives across a range of areas through its NewSkills program, which aims to address a wide variety of industry specific skills gaps over the next two years.

To find out more about how we're responding to COVID-19 visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/covid-19