INITIATIVE TO BOOST ECONOMIC RESILIENCE, CREATE JOBS IN BUSHFIRE-AFFECT REGIONS
Eurobodalla businesses and entrepreneurs have one week left to apply to iAccelerate Rise, an eight-week targeted education program to help local businesses and entrepreneurs bring their ideas to fruition.
The Eurobodalla is the first region to benefit from the program, which is delivered by the University of Wollongong’s business accelerator and incubator iAccelerate.
The iAccelerate Rise program supports new and existing regional businesses with practical workshops and a network of regional and international experts. It begins in June and will culminate in a public pitch event at UOW’s Batemans Bay Campus.
iAccelerate Ecosystem Evangelist Chris Petersilge said the Rise entrepreneur support program will increase economic resilience in the Eurobodalla region and boost employment and business opportunities for young people.
“There is excitement in the Eurobodalla Shire for this unique and proven idea and business education program,” Mr Petersilge said.
“It is for both people with a business idea to develop and for business owners who have a new product or a new direction for their business.
“Importantly, applications close 27 May so this is your opportunity. If you have the drive and the energy to accelerate your business idea and business development, this program will relate.”
Mr Petersilge said Rise was not your usual business program and the aim was to vitalise and realise the idea, business potential or project.
“Having launched the Bega Valley Innovation Hub, iAccelerate is familiar with the challenges and opportunities faced with supporting regional entrepreneurs. With over a decade of creating new industries and more than 900 jobs in Wollongong, we’re ready to bring this model created in the Bega Valley to more bushfire-affected areas.”
iAccelerate Rise is one of 195 local community projects supporting economic or social recovery, strengthening resilience and delivering ongoing community benefit to bushfire-affected communities in NSW to receive Stage 2 Bushfire Local Economic Recovery funding.
The program was developed in consultation with Eurobodalla Shire Council and in speaking to the local community.
For more information go to www.iaccelerate.com.au/rise or apply online here.
Applications close Friday 27 May.
ABOUT THE BUSHFIRE LOCAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY PACKAGE
The Bushfire Local Economic Recovery (BLER) Package is part of the $4.5 billion bushfire support program co-funded by the Australian and NSW governments for bushfire recovery, response and preparedness in NSW.
ABOUT IACCELERATE
iAccelerate is a unique business accelerator and incubator program at UOW, where start-ups, scaleups, social enterprises and businesses thrive. Businesses are supported by a robust model of education, mentoring, seed funding and unparalleled access to one of the world’s most innovative young research universities.
