More than $1.2 million worth government investment is expected to help create 31 new jobs, with a total expected investment of almost $3.9 million.

President of the North-East Chamber of Commerce, Michael-Brian Courtney, said the funding is a bonus for the community and the creation of extra jobs and extra business was more than welcome.

“We went through a lean time when the both mills shut down and there was a lot of people that did leave the area because there wasn’t the work available,” he said.

“It’s not going to make up for all those jobs that have gone but for those people that have stuck around and taken the little jobs here and there, it will definitely be a bonus that there should be full time work becoming available for them or younger people in the community.”

Mr Courtney said he hoped some of the jobs would include apprenticeships to help encourage younger members of the community to stay in the region.

“It says that at long last the North-East is getting recognised and for a long time we have been doing it hard… we don’t get a lot of advertising because we sit in the middle of nowhere,” he said.

Tourism is a major focus for the region, with three of the five grants going to tourist businesses.

The Lords Hotel received $85,130 to refurbish a heritage style building and enhance accommodation at Scottsdale. A grant of $475,00 was received by Blue Derby Pods Ride to develop a premium mountain biking experience and luxury accommodation pods within the Derby Regional Reserve.

While Bridestowe Lavender Estate was successful in being granted $380,127 to improve tourist amenities, warehousing, despatch facilities and an expansion of manufacturing capacity at Nabowla.

“Tourism will probably end up being about 65 per cent and the rest will be made up between vegetable producers and dairy,” Mr Courtney said.

Bison Management was also a successful grant recipient, and recived $110,00 to establish a post peeling line and treatment plant to supply posts to the agriculture sector.

Branxholm Sawmills (Tas) will receive $165,000 which will help create 6.3 full time equivalent positions.