A City of Logan business attraction incentive has successfully lured four companies spanning the technology, training, home improvement and social enterprise sectors to the city and will create hundreds of jobs.
Set to inject $34.28 million into the local economy, the four businesses will create the equivalent of 236 new jobs over the next 12 months and are spread across the city from Beenleigh to Berrinba.
Council's Investment Attraction Incentive Fund was hatched in 2018 to attract investment from business operations and projects that provide significant economic benefits and job creation for Logan.
Logan City Council Director of Strategy and Sustainability David Hansen, said the Fund was established as part of the 2017-18 Budget.
"To see new businesses coming to Logan and creating jobs is a wonderful thing for the city and part of Council's big picture plan to help stimulate the local economy," he said.
"Council created the Investment Attraction Incentive Fund in an effort to attract and support businesses and investments in key strategic industries.
"These investments will stimulate significant economic and community benefits and diversity and add value to the wider regional economy beyond the growth of the business."
Mr Hansen said the Investment Attraction Fund provided $1.5 million over three years (2017-2020) with $491,000 allocated to the four successful applicants for this round.
The Fund is targeted to businesses in advanced manufacturing, transport and logistics, health and medical, professional and business services, emerging and innovative industries, agricultural and biotechnology and tourism infrastructure.
"It has a focus on projects that will create new jobs, create direct value-add through construction and operations, catalyse additional investment, catalyse growth in strategic areas and support growth of other companies," Mr Hansen said.
The successful four companies now calling Logan home are G01, Help Enterprises, Pinnacle Hardware and Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre.
GO1 co-founder Vu Tran said the Investment Attraction Incentive Fund made the decision to call Logan home a possibility.
"GO1 is the world's largest online training marketplace with offices all over the world. We're excited to establish our global headquarters right here in Underwood," he said.
"Logan is a high-growth area and well-connected with its transport infrastructure, making it easy for our staff to travel and have a work-life balance that is the envy of many.
"The support of Council and the financial assistance from the Incentive Fund supported our decision to locate in Logan."
Successful Fund applicants must meet an eligibility criteria which includes a minimum $2 million in capital expenditure, creates a minimum of 10 new full-time equivalent jobs, the project is contestable, it has proven commercial viability, is a current operational business of more than two years and doesn't cause detriment to existing businesses.
About
- HELP Enterprises – a social enterprise with a mission to enhance the lifestyle, independence and long-term financial stability of people with disabilities through assisting them with meaningful employment. HELP Enterprises have established a warehousing and distribution centre in Crestmead, employing local people with disabilities.
- Pinnacle Hardware - a home improvement product supplier to the DIY market. They specialise in storage solutions, garden sheds and pet enclosures and distribute their products through Bunnings retail chains. Pinnacle Hardware have established their Queensland distribution centre in Berrinba.
- GO1 - a global, online education and training aggregator, providing a one-stop-shop for corporate and individual training needs. GO1 currently offers more than 45,000 different training courses online from a range of different training and education content providers. GO1 have established its global headquarters in Underwood.
- Plumbing Industry Climate Action Centre (PICAC) – an industry-led training facility, aimed at equipping new trainees with the best education and tools to excel at their trade. PICAC is establishing a new training facility in Beenleigh to cater for the growing vocation and trade jobs.
There are 21,978 businesses in Logan (ABS 2018) creating 115,575 local jobs.
Data shows the number of Logan residents working in the city has increased with the majority of jobs in construction, health and social, retail and manufacturing sectors.
