- Manufacturing Minister Glenn Butcher has visited Yeppoon business Keppel Brand to announce that Round 3 of the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program (MHGP) is open
- Keppel Brand was awarded $372,148 under Round 1 of the MHGP, which funded machinery for a whole new product line, enabling the business to grow and add 10 new jobs.
- $10 million in funds for the next two years is now available to help even more regional Queensland manufacturers take the next step in transforming their business.
Central Queensland manufacturers have access to $10 million in total funding, under Round 3 of the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program.
Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing Glenn Butcher officially announced the next round of the MHGP when he visited previous grant recipient, Keppel Brand, in Yeppoon.
The MHGP gives local manufacturers a new opportunity to get financial help for business-expanding initiatives, which will create more good jobs and better services in the region.
The funding boost, which was secured in the 2022/23 Queensland Budget, meant even more manufacturers would have financial support as they modernised and transitioned to manufacturing 4.0 processes.
Yeppoon's Keppel Brand has been able to expand their customer base and secure greater market share of the food manufacturing sector since securing more than $372,000 in funding from the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program (MHGP) in Round 1 in 2020.
The business has added equipment for a new range of coated beef products, including a batter machine and applicator, a preduster and crumb machine, a water chiller, a dicer and a packaging machine.
Quotes attributable to the Minister Glenn Butcher:
"The food manufacturing sector is a very competitive industry and this grant has been able to help a local business grow, become more competitive and create 10 new jobs," the Minister said.
"This is what good government is all about, helping small businesses expand and grow and contribute to the local economy," he said.
"I'm thrilled to announce another $10 million in funds for the next two years to help even more regional Queensland manufacturers take the next step in transitioning their business to 4.0 technology."
Quotes attributable to Keppel MP Brittany Lauga:
"Keppel Brand has made the most of the funding opportunity, identifying new customers and new markets to target with the new products created by the purchased equipment.
"Ten new good jobs have been created thanks to our investment in this fantastic business and the sky is the limit for their future growth.
"This program is also more evidence that our Manufacturing Hubs, which the Palaszczuk Government has permanently funded, are absolutely critical to the prosperity of local businesses."
Quotes attributable to Rockhampton MP Barry O'Rourke:
"Manufacturing contributes $20 billion a year to the state's economy and, to date, 9 Rockhampton businesses have benefitted from more than $2.2 million in funding thanks to manufacturing grants programs funded by the Palaszczuk Government.
"That's helped to create or support more than 290 good jobs and significantly boost services."
Quotes attributable to Keppel Brand Director Mark Davie:
"The funding we secured through the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program was enormously helpful in getting the machinery for a new product line," he said.
"By creating this innovative new beef product range we've been able to secure new customers and add 10 new jobs, which has been fantastic," he said.
"The Manufacturing Hub team have also been great to work with and we're really glad we've had their help," he said. "We've continued to engage with them on LEAN manufacturing courses and would encourage any other businesses to get involved and contact them," he said.
