Gippsland businesses are being urged to apply for up to $1 million in Victorian Government funding to help them expand into new markets and create new jobs.
Minister for Industry Lily D’Ambrosio and Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Jaala Pulford visited Fonterra Australia’s dairy manufacturing facility in West Gippsland today to promote the Andrews Labor Government’s new Food and Fibre strategy and encourage local businesses to apply for grants.
Victoria is Australia’s largest exporter of food and fibre products, with exports worth $12 billion in 2014-15 and more than 190,000 Victorians employed in the sector across the state.
It is one of the key sectors the Labor Government is targeting for economic growth under its $200 million Future Industries Fund.
Other sectors are medical technologies and pharmaceuticals, new energy technologies, defence technologies, construction technologies, transport technologies, international education, and professional services.
Collectively, they have the potential to generate up to $70 billion in additional economic output for Victoria and 400,000 new jobs by 2025.
The Government has released strategies to grow these priority sectors of the Victorian economy – Victoria’s Future Industries – and announced a $20 million Sector Growth Program to support the strategies, boost economic growth and create jobs.
Gippsland businesses are being urged to apply for grants of up to $1 million under the Program to help boost local industry and create new jobs.
Gippsland is also supported by the $500 million Regional Jobs and Infrastructure Fund, which will build critical infrastructure, create jobs, invest in communities and support new and emerging industries.
Fonterra Australia received $2 million in funding under the Regional Jobs and Investment Fund to upgrade its facility in Stanhope, embark on a $120 million expansion and create 30 new jobs.
More information about the Future Industries Fund Sector Growth Program and the food and fibre strategy is available at .
Quote attributable to Minister for Industry Lily D’Ambrosio
“Food and fibre is a strong industry in Gippsland and we want to help local businesses expand into new markets and create new jobs - Victoria has the potential to become the food and fibre capital for the Asia Pacific.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development Jaala Pulford
“Our dairy industry in Gippsland is worth about $3 billion and the Andrews Labor Government is keen to boost on farm employment, our manufacturing and export sector. The opportunities for growth in Gippsland are endless.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020