Upper Hutt even more attractive for relocating business

Upper Hutt City Council paves the way for business relocation through retrofit and relocation grants.

UPPER HUTT, Wellington NZ, 05 NOV 2014—The Economic Development Stimulus Package, recently launched by Upper Hutt City Council, has piqued the interest of businesses throughout the region with several applications for grants already being received. The package offers a range of grants for relocation, retrofitting, and earthquake strengthening commercial properties within Upper Hutt, and has provided a persuasive incentive for businesses considering relocating to Upper Hutt.

In its first meeting to consider applications under the initiative, the Economic Development Stimulus Approval Committee approved two grants, one being for Fire and Emergency Training Solutions (FETS), a company relocating to Nicolaus Street in Upper Hutt. FETS has provided emergency response and management training to Wellington and national businesses throughout the country since 1998, and services some of the largest companies and Industry Training Organisations in New Zealand. This relocation enables the business to expand considerably, increasing their capacity to meet the growing demand on their services.

“FETS is an excellent example of a business understanding the unique opportunities available in Upper Hutt and how to exploit them to build their own success.” says Mayor Wayne Guppy, of Upper Hutt City Council.

“The increased demand for their services meant that they had outgrown their previous site. With growing interest from significant New Zealand companies to receive in-house training from FETS, the incentive from Council has given them the opportunity to move to a much larger, purpose fitted new site. Their new Upper Hutt location allows them the space they need, while the grant they have been awarded mean that there will be minimal interruption to their operations while they establish themselves in their new home.”

FETS have been awarded grants totalling $27,370, enabling the relocation and retrofitting to their new site, making it more suitable to their needs and more befitting their burgeoning clientele. The opportunity of expansion and potential growth of their client base will mean that FETS may not be the only Upper Hutt business to benefit from this grant.

“A number of Upper Hutt contractors are engaged by FETS to complete the relocation and retrofitting, providing signage, carpet, and electrical services; we have even seen the FETS team, in uniform, dining in our local cafes.” says Mayor Guppy.

“This is the flow-on effect on our local economy that the Economic Development Stimulus Package was developed for. It is hoped that FETS and other businesses who take advantage of this initiative will achieve their own success here, supporting the economy and creating employment opportunities for local people. We welcome the FETS team to our community and wish them a prosperous future in Upper Hutt.”

FETS are now establishing themselves in their new Nicolaus Street site, which they have committed to for the next five years.

The Economic Development Stimulus Package is one of many initiatives that Council is offering to attract commercial investment into Upper Hutt. The incentives can be viewed on the new Upper Hutt commercial website, www.biz.upperhuttcity.com, where applications may also be made.

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