Around 4,600 South Australians are in newly created jobs as a result of the State Government’s Job Accelerator Grants.

Over 30 thirty new jobs have been created in the Gawler area, across a range of industries, in the first six months of the program announced as part of the 2016-17 State Budget in July.

Local Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo said that he was pleased to hear about the 30 new jobs in Gawler across the finance, services, civil construction, retail and professional services and other areas.Local auto repairers, Les Haldane Mechanical, have created two additional jobs thanks to assistance of the job accelerator program.

Mr Haldane said the grant just made it a little bit easier to employ some additional staff.Mr Piccolo said the current rate that businesses are registering new positions, means the grant scheme is on track to deliver about 14,000 grants over two years, as estimated at the time of the State Budget.

“It is extremely pleasing to see the reception these grants have received from the businesses community and the number of new positions that have been registered,” Mr Piccolo said.“

The grants are working to drive more South Australians into jobs and will act as a strong lever to keep them in those jobs longer than they otherwise might be.”

“That will have a significant impact on employment numbers in the northern parts of Adelaide as we head towards the closure of Holden in October.”

Mr Piccolo said he wants as many businesses to know about these grants as possible – if these grants end up being oversubscribed and costing the Budget more than $109 million he would be very happy because that will mean more jobs for South Australians.They offer grants of up to $10,000 to eligible businesses for each new worker employed above current staff numbers.

The $4,000 Small Business and Start-ups Grant is paid in two instalments of $2,000 on each anniversary of the increase in employment.

Further details and application forms for the grants can be found online at https://www.revenuesa.sa.gov.au/grants-and-concessions/jobacceleratorgrantscheme