River money flows to worthy regional projects
The Federal Government has put up $5 million for River Murray economic development projects.
The Regional Development and Innovation Fund (RDIF) money will be spread across six projects as part of the Government's $265 million South Australian River Murray Sustainability Program (SARMS).
The RDIF program provides funds for significant regional economic development projects located in South Australia's River Murray region.
Round One of the grants went to projects seeking a minimum investment of $1 million per project, of which at least half needed to be a co-contribution by the applicant.
The successful applicants were; Peregrine Corporation Pty Ltd, the University of Adelaide, GrowSmart Training, Rockford Homes Pty Ltd, Peats Soil and Garden Supplies and SA Sawdust Sales.
$1 million in funding will go to Peregrine Corporation Pty Ltd to develop an industrial precinct for a proposed Motorsport Park at Tailem Bend.
The University of Adelaide has been offered $500,000 in RDIF funding to establish its successful e-challenge entrepreneurship development program in the Riverland.
GrowSmart Training is expected to develop the Chaffey Learning Exchange with a funding offer of $1.1 million, to deliver an world class post-secondary education network.
The network is set to include new land management curriculum and courses, co-learning support groups enabling students to undertake further education in regional areas, and entrepreneurship hubs in the South Australian River Murray region.
To help address an accommodation shortage for seasonal workers in Paringa, Rockford Homes Pty Ltd has been offered $1.2 million to construct a Workers Accommodation Park.
Peats Soil and Garden Supplies will employ more renewable sources of energy with a funding offer of $500,000.
And finally, SA Sawdust Sales has been offered funding of $500,000 to expand its business operations so it can meet demand from the growing South Australian chicken broiler industry.