Eight construction companies have been shortlisted to complete infrastructure and refurbishment projects on 35 Illawarra primary schools, after project-manager Sydney-based company Richard Crookes Constructions invited tenders.

Although they have yet to sign a contract, Warilla-based building contractors Camarda & Cantrill expect to begin work in the next few weeks.

Manager Samy Saad said the company had been told it would be completing work on several local schools. He expects more work may well come their way in the coming months.

"We've been told we'll be doing five schools and some have more than one project," he said.

Mr Saad said he did not have a final figure for the work but estimated it would be more than $10 million.

He expected the work to be ongoing for the next 18 months and said it would have a huge impact on business.

"It is very quiet at the moment," Mr Saad said.

"This work is definitely going to help us a great deal."

Mr Saad expects the present staff of 21 to be boosted with an extra five jobs.

"We're already putting on apprentices and looking at recruiting a couple of supervisors," he said.

Other South Coast building and construction companies shortlisted include Piruse Constructions (Mt Kembla); Edwards Constructions (Batemans Bay); Pearce and Percy Constructions (Nowra); Manteena (Fairy Meadow); project Co-ordination Illawarra (Unanderra) and Thomas & Coffey (Unanderra), and Waldock Construction Group (Wollongong). Final appointments will be made soon.

Federal MP for Throsby Jennie George said the work would stimulate the economy and create much-needed jobs.

"It's a huge investment," she said. "There hasn't been such a large investment at any one time in our region."

Illawarra Business Chamber president Les Dion said it was timely given construction work on the reline of BlueScope Steel's No 5 blast furnace had ended.

"It will buy a bit of time while the economy sorts itself out, but much more needs to be done long-term," he said.