State funds for Geraldton co-working space

The state government has awarded Geraldton-based social enterprise Pollinators $110,000 in grants to promote startup initiatives in the region.

Pollinators uses a mix of earned revenue and grant funding to provide practical support for innovators and entrepreneurs.

It operates the co-working space CityHive and is working on development of its CreativeHub project, a hub for local performance and visual artists in the region.

Of the grant money, $80,000 will be used over four years to subsidise the cost of startups using space at CityHive and to bring more entrepreneurs into the incubator.

“This funding will enable us to subsidise people who come forward with a great idea or a new business opportunity, and they can come in and use this space for far less or even for free,” Pollinators head of spaces Angie West told Business News.

The other $30,000 will provide the initial funds required to build new amenities for CreativeHub.

“We reactivated two empty buildings down here in the west end of the CBD and we’ve been able to put arts groups in there at a really cheap rate; but the one thing we don’t have down there is any amenities, and so to be able to progress that concept for performing arts and groups of people to gather and enjoy, we need amenities,” Ms West said.

“So that $30,000 was a kick-start towards getting those amenities.

“We are grateful to the Labor government for this commitment. This will support a minimum of four to 10 startups and entrepreneurs over the course of the years that we have that money to invest.”

Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan said innovation was key to diversifying the economy, creating employment opportunities and attracting investors to Western Australia.

“Geraldton can lead the way in WA for startups,” she said.

“There is a pool of exceptionally talented entrepreneurs in regional WA, and the state government is committed to supporting and encouraging innovation in the regions, as we look for new ways to create local jobs.”