The Department of State and Regional Development is providing $85,000 in funding to support a new transport and logistics industry skills development network based in Parkes and an investment Prospectus to promote the town's industry capabilities.

The $60,000 network project will be coordinated by the Central West Regional Development Board and made up of a group of companies seeking to address skills and labour shortages in the industry. The Board will work with industry and encourage innovative practices that will help the local industry to meet market demands and take advantage of new opportunities.

The project will also grow the RenWeld mining and engineering network which was established in the Orange, Cabonne and Blayney areas in December 2006.

Parkes Shire Council, in partnership with the Board, will apply $25,000 of the funding to developing the Parkes Hub Investment Prospectus. The Prospectus will be used to attract investment to Parkes, highlighting the town’s transport and logistics and engineering industries, and will include a section on employment opportunities.

The network project and Prospectus will contribute to establishing Parkes as the transport and logistics hub of the Central West by providing avenues for companies to ensure that skills are developed in line with business growth.