New Zealand / Economy

Southland to get $4m Provincial Growth Fund boost for jobs, manufacturing and aquaculture

13:33 pm on 28 November 2019

More than $4 million from the Provincial Growth Fund has been announced for Southland manufacturers, aquaculture and a job training scheme.

Southland is getting more than $4m from the Provincial Growth Fund. Photo: 123rf.com

Southland Youth Futures, a scheme run for the past three years which helps young people to upskill and gain employment, will get $1.5m.

Just over $2m will be spread between 10 Southland engineering and manufacturing firms to help them to buy new equipment to lift their productivity.

Another $500,000 will go towards a trial to see if red seaweed can be cultivated in the region.

The seaweed can be fed to livestock and has a key ingredient that can curb climate change, by reducing their methane output by up to 95 percent.