Gladstone businesses booming as Palaszczuk Government unlocks $10M of manufacturing grant funding

• Minister Glenn Butcher has visited Gladstone business Mecha, to announce that Round 3 of the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program (MHGP) is open.
• Mecha won $230,000 under round 1 of the MHGP, which funded a new Rapid Reverse Engineering Project and supported more than 35 good, local 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 and Gladstone MP Glenn Butcher officially announced the next round of the MHGP when he visited a former grant recipient, Mecha, in Gladstone.

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.

Gladstone’s Mecha has officially finalised its industry leading Rapid Reverse Engineering Project, a project years in the making, which was made possible thanks to a $230,000 in funding from the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program (MHGP) in Round 1 in 2021.  

Quotes attributable to Minister Butcher:

“Manufacturers in Central Queensland are looking to grow their business and modernise. Our funding helps them do that faster and more efficiently,” Mr Butcher said.

“Supply chain issues are continuing to challenge many businesses throughout regional Queensland, especially if they’re waiting on replacement parts, but Mecha’s Rapid Reverse Engineering Project means the team can create those parts here, enabling their customers to quickly get back to business.

“As we ramp up the rollout of the Palaszczuk Government’s Energy and Jobs plan, being able to complete this work locally is absolutely critical to the future.

“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.

“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.”

Quotes attributable to Mecha General Manager Mat Canniffe:

“This funding has been an important part of our growth and it has meant we could get started sooner rather than later,” Mr Canniffe said.

“Since the funding announcement, we’ve added another 20 jobs to the business and attracted new customers.

“Mecha has invested in skills together with this technology to assist our clients in solving the most complex problems in the shortest timeframes, safely.

“We’re looking forward to growing our customer base and remaining a supplier of choice in the future,” he said.

Further information:

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 Rounds 1 and 2, the application process for Round 3 has been simplified to ensure as many people as possible can access grant funding.

To learn more about the MHGP, contact the local Manufacturing Hub and speak to one of the friendly staff.

For more information visit: www.rdmw.qld.gov.au/regional-development/mhgp 

ENDS

Media contact – Emilia Hutchinson 0435 060 437