$3.9 million invested in Queensland agriculture under fifth round of rural grants

• More than $3.9 million invested in 24 Queensland agricultural businesses and 215 jobs to be created from Round 5 of the Rural Economic Development (RED) Grants
• Successful RED Grant projects located across 13 local government areas
• Projects covering a range of industries from high-tech nursery production, horticultural processing and packaging to meat snacks processing line.

The Palaszczuk Government is delivering a $3.9 million boost to twenty-four Queensland agricultural businesses and creating up to 215 direct, long-term jobs under Round Five of its Rural Economic Development (RED) Grants program.

The twenty-four successful applicants for Round Five of the RED Grants program are located across 13 local government areas: Barcaldine, Cairns, Cook, Gold Coast, Livingstone, Lockyer Valley, Mareeba, Moreton Bay, Somerset, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville, and Whitsunday.

Each successful applicant will receive up to $200,000 to complete shovel-ready projects that stimulate economic and employment growth in Queensland’s agricultural industry.

Activities being funded under Round Five of the RED Grants program are diverse and range from a meat snacks processing line and livestock supplement manufacturing to high-tech nursery production and horticultural produce cooling, processing, and packaging facilities.

The Palaszczuk Government’s RED Grants program has provided a total of $13.3 million in funding over five years to support 59 successful regional agribusiness projects, worth more than $52.4 million and has been estimated to create over 2,500 new direct and indirect jobs.

Funding for a sixth round of RED Grants has been allocated for the 2023-24 financial year, with applications to open later this year.

The Round Six grants program will include a focus on supporting Indigenous-owned agribusinesses and projects aimed at low-emissions agriculture.

The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) administers the RED Grant scheme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

For more information visit qrida.qld.gov.au/program/rural-economic-development-grants.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner:

“Time and time again the Palaszczuk Government has delivered on its commitment to bolster Queensland’s agricultural industry.

“Round Five of our Rural Economic Development Grants program is no different, with a $3.9 million investment to create up to 215 jobs in rural and regional communities.

“With successful Round Five applicants located from the Darling Downs to Far North Queensland, the Rural Economic Development Program is helping create resilient regional communities built on strong local agricultural industries.

“The activities funded under Round Five of the Program support a diverse range of industries from a meat snacks processing line and livestock supplement manufacturing to high-tech nursery production and horticultural produce cooling, processing, and packaging facilities.

“We want to give even more agricultural businesses a chance to grow, which is why later this year we will be opening applications for Round Six of this great program.

“Over five years, the Palaszczuk Government’s RED Grants program has provided a total of $13.3 million in funding to support 59 successful regional agribusiness projects, worth more than $52.4 million and estimated to create over 2,500 new direct and indirect jobs.”

ENDS      

Media contacts: Minister Furner: Martin Philp - 0407 675 008

                             QRIDA: Amy Buckingham – 0427 748 277