Shire gets on board with GROW

THE Surf Coast Shire has committed to helping address disadvantage in the G21 region, signing up to the GROW Compact.

GROW (G21 Region Opportunities for Work) is a long-term strategy that aims to generate local sustainable jobs and support jobseekers from areas with high rates of unemployment to have equal access to work opportunities.

The council resolved at its February meeting to sign up to the GROW Compact and embed its principles into the organisation by developing a Compact Action Plan.

Shire mayor David Bell said he was proud that the council was becoming a partner in the social procurement initiative.

“GROW aligns perfectly with a couple of our objectives as a council – to provide support for people in need and to support the creation of jobs in existing and new businesses to meet the needs of our growing community.

“While we currently have a low unemployment rate, we know that more employment opportunities need to be created to match our population growth.

“We see GROW as a crucial activity that will help us foster communities where job creation is more likely.”

GROW is a joint regional initiative between Give Where You Live Foundation and G21 – Geelong Region Alliance.

According to the report presented to councillors, organisations who have signed the GROW Compact are now considering the social value of their purchasing decisions, identifying potential training and employment opportunities for jobseekers from target areas, and investigating the allocation of their routine operation and project spend to local suppliers and products,

“We’re excited to work with and learn from other organisations to develop ways to support disadvantaged people not only in the Surf Coast, but the wider community,” Cr Bell said.