Handasyde Strawberries, in the Western Australian town of Albany were one of the successful recipients of a grant to support capital investment in value adding and processing across the state.
The company received $75,000 for the diversification of strawberry production including freeze drying and enhanced packaging of fruit products.
It is part of the program giving value adding and processing business opportunities across the state, with the McGowan Government investing $3.1 million in grants to support and encourage capital investment.
"Capturing more value from our primary industries is absolutely critical to our Government's plan to drive job growth across regional WA," Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan said. "The fantastic response to this program highlights the number of value adding businesses throughout the State that are looking to invest, expand and capture new market opportunities across Australia and the world."
Manjimup Cider Company received $125,000 to create an alternative option for Newton Orchards apples for premium juice and cider, while Chestnut Grove Holdings will use $40,000 for a feasibility for winery diversification for apple crushing, juicing and cider production. Grants were also awarded across other areas of agriculture including the beef, dairy, seafood and grain industry.
The Value Add Agribusiness Investment Attraction Fund initiative received considerable interest, with 23 matching grants awarded to companies from the Kimberley to the South Coast.
Sixteen grants are to invest in expansion, relocation or new value adding production facilities, while another seven grants will assist recipients to undertake investment de-risking activities to expand or establish production facilities.
The grants are expected to generate more than $12.5 million in total co-investment across a range of industries, and create an estimated 128 jobs in the regions during the next 18 months.
"This investment will help value adding and processing businesses to step up to the next level and expand investment to build competitiveness, adopt new technologies, diversify and grow their enterprises," Ms MacTiernan said. "It will mean our local businesses can grow and compete for opportunities from interstate and in international markets, which in turn supports diversification across the economy."
The McGowan Government responded to the very high level of interest in this pilot incentive scheme by allocating an additional $1.6 million to the capital investment grants, reflecting the strong growth in WA's agrifood value adding and processing sector.
For more information and a full list of grant recipients: www.agric.wa.gov.au/VAAIAFrecipients