SME confectionery, food and beverage manufacturers are encouraged to apply for grants of up to $25,000 for projects that improve energy efficiency.
Guidelines were released yesterday for the Federal Government’s $19.9 million Energy Efficient Communities Program.
The grants of between $10,000 and $25,000 will be paid upfront with no co-contribution requirement.
They will be split between states and territories based on the proportion of food and beverage manufacturing businesses in each jurisdiction and will be awarded on a first come, first served basis until the funding allocation is reached.
Tim Wilson, Assistant Minister to the Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction, said the program would cut power bills for eligible businesses and create jobs directly in the sector as well as for local tradespeople.
Tim Piper, who leads Ai Group’s confectionery sector, added: “It’s a win-win-win for industry, the environment and consumers.”
Applications for this round of the program will open on January 12 and close on February 18.
Australia’s manufacturing sector employs more than 800,000 Australians. Food and beverage manufacturing is one of six national priority areas targeted under the Federal Government’s Modern Manufacturing Strategy.
The food and beverage manufacturing industry employs a quarter of manufacturing workers and contributes about $22.4 billion to the economy.
For more information, grant guidelines and application forms, please click here or call 13 28 46.
Wendy Larter is Communications Manager at the Australian Industry Group. She has more than 20 years’ experience as a reporter, features writer, contributor and sub-editor for newspapers and magazines including The Courier-Mail in Brisbane and Metro, the News of the World, The Times and Elle in the UK.
