The Palaszczuk Government's Community Social Enterprise Development Grants have invested more than $36,000 into a new recycling venture and expansion of a low-cost grocery store in Bundaberg.
Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said the local grant recipients include IMPACT Recycling and New Image Laundry, which focus on providing work experience and training to disadvantaged people whilst delivering recycling and laundry services.
"The grant will help fund IMPACT's Envirodrum initiative to recycle industrial drums and create an employment pathway to support at-risk young people, including young people with a disability," Minister Farmer said.
"All up our Community Social Enterprise Development Grants have committed more than $600,000 through 36 grants to social enterprises across the state, including in Bundaberg."
Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith said the grants would make a big difference.
"The grant will help IMPACT buy a drum crusher to enable the social enterprise to achieve a greater return on recyclable product, gain a better result for the environment with the crushing and repurposing into other usable items, and create a new revenue stream and greater employment opportunities," Mr Smith said.
"Angels Mini Mart is another Bundaberg social enterprise to receive a grant to expand its operations.
"The low-cost grocery store, assisting people stretch their dollar further, helps reduce food waste and provides free emergency hampers weekly to those in need.
"The move, into new larger premises, will double the size of their second social enterprise, a thrift store, Second 2 None.
"The social enterprise aims to increase their customer base so they can provide more employment opportunities and ensure the operation's sustainability into the future."
Minister Farmer said social enterprises played an important role.
"Getting communities and local economies on track for future growth are important goals of the Palaszczuk Government's $14.2 billion COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan," Minister Farmer said.
"The recovery plan places a focus on backing small businesses and investing in skills, and many social enterprises - like IMPACT Recyling, New Image Laundry and Angels Mini Mart - are doing both. That's why we will deliver $3 million worth of grants to the sector as part of our Social Enterprise Jobs Fund.
"The Community Social Enterprise Development Grants are the first to be awarded through the fund, and applications for the next grants - our Social Enterprise Growth Grants – are open from today.
"Across the state, social enterprises are providing needed services and products for the wider community, which in turn provide jobs and training opportunities. Growing this sector will provide more support and benefits to people across Queensland."
