The boost comes after council resolved last month to provide financial assistance to the Race Dental Group in an effort to secure the project for the Cowra

region.

In its Draft 2008 / 2009 Budget to go on public exhibition this month, Council has included $600,000 over three years to assist the company to establish its operations in the Cowra area.

General Manager James Roncon explained Council will provide $300,000 in cash to be paid at $100,000 per year for three years, subject to Race Dental meeting

predetermined key performance indicators.

“In addition, $300,000 in kind will be provided to help with works and services costs such as infrastructure upgrades including roads, water and sewer upgrades, development application fees and section 94 contributions. This assistance will again be linked back to predetermined key performance indicators,” he said.

Currently based in North Ryde, the Race Dental Group are looking to establish a dental facility in the Cowra region that will grow their south east Asia market share and in turn provide potentially 160 jobs to the Cowra region over five years.

“This is fantastic news for Cowra. It means increased business and industry in our town, more jobs and a higher profile that may encourage other large companies to seriously consider Cowra as a business location,” Mr Roncon said,.

“Aldi supermarkets, Southern Rural Holdings’ interest in the Pridham Street residential development, the Yarrabilly development and now of course Race Dental, are the result of years of liaising with various companies and promoting the benefits of Cowra as a business and lifestyle destination.”

Mr Roncon explained that business ventures of this nature are delicate; they take time and a lot of negotiation on Council’s part to come to fruition.

“That said I think that over the next 12 to 18 months we’ll only see more positive development in the Cowra region as many of the other projects that are currently simmering away, come to the boil.”

Race Dental Managing Director Brad Race said the company is really pleased with the progress to date on the Cowra region project and it is very impressed with the level of support and assistance it has received from the council to make this project happen.

“It’s really good to see a local council committed to the growth of its area and so eager to attract development,” Mr Race said.

“Over the coming months we will continue to work through the many matters we need to sign off on and would hope that towards the end of this year, we may be up and going with stage one of the project”