Manufacturing minister Glenn Butcher announced the opening of round three of the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program (MHGP) when he visited former grant recipient Status Signs.
Under this round, manufacturers in Cairns will have access to $10 million in total funding,
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, means even more manufacturers would have financial support as they modernised and transitioned to manufacturing 4.0 processes.
Status Signs won $134,461 under the first round of the MHGP, which funded a CNC routing machine, which cuts objects into 3D shapes, as well as a 3D UV printer, and a CNC laser cutter along with some automated software. The business was also able to hire five new staff, including two apprentices, with the funding.
“Manufacturers in Cairns are looking to grow their business and modernise. Our funding helps them do that faster and more efficiently,” Butcher said.
“Remembering some of the challenges of 2021, it’s commendable that the Status Signs team was able to take a visionary approach to the business and take that step to expand and grow.
“This program is also more evidence that our Manufacturing Hubs, which the Palasazczuk Government has permanently funded, are absolutely critical to the prosperity of local businesses.”
To date, the MHGP has awarded more than $13 million to 49 projects, including for business development, technology adoption, skills and training across the five eligible regions throughout Queensland.
Following a review of the first two rounds, the application process for round three has been simplified to ensure as many people as possible can access grant funding.
.png){kind=small}
