Funding for development Initiative spawned by Gigatown

Alistair King.
Alistair King.
Wanaka will soon get its first economic development manager with a mandate to explore business opportunities beyond tourism.

The job will be offered by ''the Cube'' with $200,000 of funding from the Queenstown Lakes District Council over the next two years.

The Cube is a business development vehicle that arose from Wanaka's bid to secure a big ultra-fast broadband boost by winning the Gigatown competition last year.

While Dunedin pipped Wanaka in the competition, the Wanaka task force involved has continued with its broadband-based business development plans.

One of its members, Wanaka Chamber of Commerce president Alistair King, told the Otago Daily Times this week the council funding was ''a fantastic start''.

''It allows us to get under way with recruiting the business development position that we are looking to do.''

The funding was half the amount the group had sought from the council, and Mr King said the first job for the person appointed would be securing a further $200,000.

He did not think it would prove to be difficult.

''But it needs somebody in a paid position that can get in there and get the job done.''

Aside from the salary for the job, funding would be used for administration and travel around New Zealand to bring ''projects'' into Wanaka, Mr King said.

Mr King said the new manager's job would involve helping new businesses ''get settled and established'' in Wanaka.

''Most cities and bigger towns around New Zealand have some form of economic development unit, which we don't have.''

Mr King said the job would involve identifying businesses that would be ''great for the Wanaka economy'' and ''talking to them and bringing them in''.

Those businesses were likely to be in ''the digital and knowledge economy'', he said.

The ''Cell'', in the former police station in Helwick St, was set up to provide new start-up businesses with office space and ultra-fast broadband.

It has five permanent tenants and other part time users.

 


Boosting business

The Cube (formerly ''the Cell''):

• What: Centre of Unique Business Evolution.

• Where: Based at the Cell in the former police station in Helwick St.

• When: Initiated as part of the Gigatown Wanaka campaign.

• Who: Peter Marshall, Alistair King, Arna Craig, Richard Prout, Trevor Crawford, Kelly Good, Hetty Van Hale, Wayne Hudson, Steve Turner.

• Why: To foster business growth.

• How: By employing a business development manager to assist in encouraging new business start ups in Wanaka.

• Who's paying: The Queenstown Lakes District Council is putting in $200,000 - half what those who established the Cube believe is required to get rolling - and revenue from the Cell.

• Who might pay: The government and businesses.

• An objective: ''... to lift the average local household income by 5% year-on-year, driven by sustainable economic progress supported by a new pool of high value jobs.''


 

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