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Nelson City Council Welcomes Government Investment In Nelson

July 25, 2020Press Release – Nelson City Council


Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese says yesterdays announcement of Government investment will boost economic development in the region. Three Nelson-based projects are to receive funding from the Provincial Growth Fund and the Infrastructure Reference …

Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese says yesterday’s announcement of Government investment will boost economic development in the region.

Three Nelson-based projects are to receive funding from the Provincial Growth Fund and the Infrastructure Reference Group’s (IRG) shovel-ready project fund.

The projects align closely with Nelson Whakatū’s vision of The Smart Little City – he taōne tōrire a Whakatū – and will support Project Kōkiri, the region’s economic response collaboration to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hawk Eye Limited and Apollo Autonomy will receive $3 million to further develop software that will enable unmanned airfreight operations, with an operation run out of Nelson and initial piloted flights between Nelson, Westport and Christchurch.

The Apollo Aviation project will create up to 10 jobs in the short term, and between 25-40 permanent jobs as the project develops, which Mayor Reese says will provide a boost to aviation employment opportunities in the region.
“Nelson has a proud aviation history and a focus on leading edge innovation is a positive move as the sector responds to downsizing challenges as a result of Covid-19,” she says.

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