- Published:
- Wednesday 14 February 2018
Thomastown chocolate and honeycomb producer The Confectionery House is creating jobs and expanding its production of sweets thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.
Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll and Member for Thomastown Bronwyn Halfpenny visited the company to announce a grant from the Labor Government’s Local Industry Fund for Transition.
The chocolate manufacturer is using the grant to expand its product range and boost exports from $160,000 to a projected $1 million by 2020. The grant will also see six new jobs created that are suitable for ex-auto workers.
The transition grants help businesses generate new investment and create jobs for retrenched workers in areas affected by the closure of car manufacturing, including Melbourne’s north.
The initiative has supported 36 projects so far, which are expected to create 885 jobs – more than 700 of which are suitable for former automotive workers.
The Labor Government has committed over $100 million in manufacturing support, creating over 3,500 jobs and driving more than $1.2 billion in private investment.
Victoria’s manufacturing industry contributes $27.7 billion to the economy, is made up of more than 13,000 businesses and employs more than 286,000 people – an increase of more than 20,000 over the last two years.
This bucks the national trend, with the rest of Australia losing 2,500 manufacturing jobs over the same period.
Manufacturing is Victoria’s fourth largest employer and is responsible for $17.9 billion worth of goods exports.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Industry and Employment Ben Carroll
“Six new jobs and some chocolate thrown in – it couldn’t be sweeter.”
“With our support, companies like The Confectionery House are expanding, creating jobs and growing our economy.”
Quote attributable to Member for Thomastown Bronwyn Halfpenny
“The Confectionery House is a great local business and thanks to the support from the Andrews Labor Government, it will expand its operations and create jobs.”