- 57 businesses from across WA to receive Agrifood and Beverage vouchers
- Cook Government accelerateing value adding opportunities, business expansion and job creation
- Round four grants worth $431,934 to drive business growth, resilience and sustainability
The Cook Government has announced 57 Western Australian businesses will share in $431,934 of funding to drive business growth, resilience and sustainability, as part of round four of the Agrifood and Beverage Voucher Program.
The program is designed to support agrifood and beverage businesses across the State access professional expertise to take their enterprise to the next level.
Recipients include manufacturers of edible cutlery, ready-made meals, pasta, health food, coffee, herbs and spices, honey, truffles, olives, kombucha, chocolate, garlic, ice cream, cider, beer, wine and spirits.
Vouchers up to a combined value of $15,000 per business, including co-contributions leveraging a share of a further $726,246, will assist recipients invest in sales and marketing expertise, business planning, manufacturing for business growth, financial health and environmental sustainability and social responsibility.
Over the past five years, 134 WA businesses have benefited from the Agrifood and Beverage vouchers, leveraging more than $1.2 million in industry investment.
A recent independent survey of recipients found vouchers positively contributed to full-time job creation, increased sales turnover, and improved international competitiveness.
The Cook Government has several initiatives supporting agrifood and beverage manufacturing in WA, including Value Add Investment grants, capability-building workshops, and market development programs such as Export Pathways and Buy West Eat Best.
A full list of recipients can be viewed at www.agric.wa.gov.au/AFBvoucherprogram.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"The Agrifood and Beverage Voucher Program supports businesses with professional advice to improve their skills, knowledge and confidence to evolve their operations and capture growth opportunities.
"I am excited to see such a great response to this round, with a diverse range of businesses from the Kimberley to the Great Southern looking to invest in strengthening operations, supporting innovation and growing aspirations.
"The Cook Labor Government is committed to helping the State grow its agrifood and beverage sector to achieve its full potential and stimulate flow-on benefits to the WA economy and communities."
Comments attributed to Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
"Agrifood and beverage businesses greatly contribute to our regional economies through jobs and tourism.
"It is pleasing to see so many regional enterprises secure this funding and put their efforts towards business sustainability and growth, which will enable long-term community success job creation.
"I encourage agrifood and beverage businesses across regional WA to consider the funding opportunities offered through this program."
