The Palaszczuk Government’s Community Social Enterprise Development Grants have invested more than $25,000 in Far North Queensland to support expansion of a healthy eating project and a garden maintenance business.
Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills, Di Farmer, today announced the recipients of the grants.
Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and Member for Mulgrave, Curtis Pitt, was pleased Anglicare will receive $8,000 to increase sales in the Healthy Eating Takeaway social enterprise in Yarrabah.
“The grant enables the organisation to purchase chairs and tables to offer sit down meals as well as takeaways and will eventually re-invest in the operation by employing and training more local people,” Mr Pitt said.
“Any initiative that aims to improve awareness around healthy eating as well as create opportunities for training and jobs is welcomed by the Yarrabah community.
“This funding will create opportunities for people in Yarrabah to secure employment close to where they live.
Member for Cairns Michael Healy said local social enterprise, Green Care Cairns, had received nearly $18,000.
“Green Care Cairns is a social enterprise which specialises in lawn and garden maintenance and employs people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and those who benefit from outdoor work,” Mr Healy said.
“The grant funding will enable the organisation to purchase additional equipment, doubling capacity of the business.
“The knock-on effect is that Green Care Cairns will create more employment opportunities for people from disadvantaged backgrounds, a clear benefit for the wider community.”
Minister Farmer said social enterprises played an important role.
“Getting communities and local economies on track for future growth are important goals of the Palaszczuk Government’s $14.2 billion COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan,” Minister Farmer said.
“The recovery plan places a focus on backing small businesses and investing in skills, and many social enterprises – like the Healthy Eating Takeaway and Green Care Cairns – are doing both. That’s why we will deliver $3 million worth of grants to the sector as part of our Social Enterprise Jobs Fund.
“The Community Social Enterprise Development Grants are the first to be awarded through the fund, and applications for the next grants – our Social Enterprise Growth Grants – are open from today.
“Across the state, social enterprises are providing needed services and products for the wider community, which in turn provide jobs and training opportunities. Growing this sector will provide more support and benefits to people across Queensland.”
