$207,000 Sunshine Coast business boost

• Three businesses on the Sunshine Coast are set to share $207,294 in funding under Round 5 of the Miles Labor Government’s Business Growth Fund.
  
  
• Cooroy’s Studio Steel, Telge Fisheries of Minyama and Chevallum-based GeoDrill Australia will receive funding in the latest round of the program. 
  
  
• Through the fund, eligible Queensland small businesses can access grants of up to $75,000 to purchase specialised equipment to accelerate growth, increase production and expand their workforce.

From the Gold Coast to Cairns, 28 businesses will share in $1.9 million to help them grow. 

That includes three businesses based on the Sunshine Coast – Studio Steel, Telge Fisheries and GeoDrill Australia.

With grant funding, Business Growth Fund recipients are expected to improve confidence for growth and diversification, while increasing productivity, profit and possibly their workforce, catering for their transition from small to medium-sized businesses.

GeoDrill Australia, a family-owned business specialising in mineral and coal exploration, as well as geotechnical and water drilling services, will use a $75,000 grant to enhance capabilities of its fleet of three Hydrapower HP850 drilling rigs.

The business will engage a Toowoomba-based engineering firm to design, engineer and implement rig enhancements, which will upgrade depth capacity beyond 3000m and allow the business to remain competitive with interstate drilling rivals.

Minyama-based Telge Fisheries, which provides trawler-caught seafood to restaurants and retail outlets in Australia and abroad, will use a $75,000 grant to purchase and install a high-tech weighing and packaging machine. 

Installed on-board Telge Fisheries’ FV Kelvana trawler, the machinery is expected to improve product quality and prolong shelf life, significantly increase outputs and reduce wasted catch on-board and along the supply chain.

Cooroy based Studio Steel is a full-service structural steel fabrication business that offers advanced modelling using 3D LiDAR scanning of existing buildings to establish accurate-as-constructed building models.

A $57,000 grant will support the purchase of a Trimble X9 scanning package to expand scanning capabilities and access new customers, in new markets. 

For more information on the Business Growth Fund, please visit the Business Queensland website - www.business.qld.gov.au or call 1300 654 687.

 Quotes attributable to the Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development, Lance McCallum:

“Small businesses are the backbone of our communities and our economy, which is why the Miles’ Labor Government is proud to support them and help them grow.

“This latest round of the Business Growth Fund will help 28 businesses across Queensland to meet demand and unlock their potential. 

“Each of these businesses have identified speciality equipment that will help take their operations to the next level. 

“Backing our hard-working small businesses means a bigger and more robust economy.

“This latest round of the Business Growth Fund means more than 5,800 grants have been paid totalling more than $37 million through the Miles Government’s Big Plans for Small Business Strategy. 

Quotes attributable to Rob Skelton, Member for Nicklin:

“I’m proud to be a member of the Miles Government, which values and backs our hard working small businesses.

“Being able to support businesses like GeoDrill, which is based in my electorate, to innovate and expand, while employing local people, is what the Miles Government is about.

“We invest in people and skills and because of that, all of Queensland is rewarded for years to come.”

Quotes attributable to Jason Hunt, Member for Caloundra

“I’m thrilled to see three great Sunshine Coast small businesses receive Business Growth Fund grants.

“The Miles Government recognises the value of backing small business through investment and innovation, as it keeps Queensland competitive and prosperous.

“History has told us, cutting just doesn’t cut it.”

 Quotes attributable to GeoDrill Australia Managing Director Thomas Partleton: 

“The Business Growth Fund has helped us to prepare and launch a new brand, GD Water Solutions.  

“With GD Water Solutions, we will service rural Queensland, providing end-to-end Water Solutions to Queensland businesses and families. 

“As a family owned, fourth-generation Queensland based drilling business, the Business Growth Fund allowed us to further enhance the exceptional drilling capacity of our three Queensland manufactured Hydrapower HP850 drilling rigs. 

“Queensland Government support has helped our revenue grow by 44%, allowed us to employ an additional 12 team members over the last year and it’s keeping us competitive.” 

Further information:

• The Business Growth Fund Program is a highly valuable support initiative of the Queensland Government’s Big Plans for Small Business Strategy 2021-23.
• More than 5800 small business grants have been paid totalling more than $37 million through the Big Plans for Small Business Strategy grant programs. 
• Three small business grants made available through Big Plans for Small Business Strategy  include:
  • Business Growth Fund grants (up to $75,000) – for small and medium-sized businesses to purchase specialised equipment. 110 Queensland businesses have been supported to-date, sharing in almost $5.7 million.
  • Business Boost grants (up to $20,000) – for small businesses to enhance their efficiency and productivity. 379 businesses have been supported to-date, sharing in more than $4.7 million. 
  • Business Basics grant ($5000) – for new and emerging businesses to increase core skills and adopt best practice. 5390 businesses have been supported to-date, sharing in $27 million.

Media contact:  Cullen Robinson 0418 170 474