The City of Perth is helping East Perth distillery Whipper Snapper to save lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a Small Business Grant for the company to convert their usual business operations into the production of hand sanitiser.
Through fast tracked approvals, the City of Perth offered a Quick Response Small Business Grant to Whipper Snapper within a week, giving the business $5000 for equipment needed to make the sanitiser.
Whipper Snapper Managing Director Alasdair Malloch said the grant was extremely important to support the change from whiskey production to hand sanitiser.
He said this had allowed him to re-hire and increase the number of shifts offered to staff as a result of past cuts they had made at the start of last week.
"In essence, we have increased employment and have very good short to medium-term growth expectations whilst our community is under the threat of COVID-19," he said.
"We now have multiple purchase orders from different buyers including the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions and Transperth while we are in discussions with others.
"There is a huge need for high quality hand sanitiser in WA and we're grateful for the City of Perth grant as it has helped us pivot our business to meet this important need."
During COVID-19, the City has been doing all it can to help small businesses and the wider community.
"While this is a very tough time for everyone in the Perth community, the City is pleased to be able to help support Whipper Snapper's business resilience and adaptability," Chair Commissioner Andrew Hammond said.
"We want to thank Whipper Snapper for their service and their significant production of hand sanitiser to those who need it on the frontline."
Ferngrove Wines in WA's Great Southern have been supplying the wine for Whipper Snapper to distil in making ethanol for the sanitiser. LabWest will oversee the mixing of the ethanol with other high-grade World Health Organisation compliant ingredients to make the finished product into medical-grade hand sanitiser.
The WA-owned companies expect to have the first packaged hand sanitiser product ready by the end of this week.
