Manufacturers in Gladstone are seeing the rewards of Queensland Government initiatives and investment in regional manufacturing, with more than $1.5 million awarded in grants to six local businesses, which have created or supported more than 180 jobs.
Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher released the numbers on day one of Australian Manufacturing Week, highlighting that the Gladstone Manufacturing Hub has contributed significantly to the local economy.
“The local Manufacturing Hub staff have made nearly 2000 visits to businesses in the region, helping guide and support their teams to adopt advanced manufacturing technology and practices, and connect with peers in the local area to foster growth and develop a collaborative regional network.
“The Manufacturing Hub and associated manufacturing grants are enabling our fantastic local businesses to build capability and capacity, that they otherwise might not have been able to do.
“I know what businesses in Gladstone are capable of and these successes are just the beginning. It is all part of building Queensland as the home of manufacturing in Australia.
“Manufacturing already contributes $20 billion a year, to the state’s economy and we want to see that build even further,” he said.
“These regional manufacturing hubs all over Queensland are helping local manufacturers adopt advanced new technologies and techniques, explore new markets and create new jobs and it’s going a long way toward putting us at the forefront of the global manufacturing economy.”
Gladstone Manufacturing Hub Skills Development and Training Officer Mick Elliott said the past 3 years, since the Hub launched, had been a busy time getting to understand what each local manufacturer needed and how best to meet those needs.
“We’re a support service, with a clear focus on helping manufacturers modernise, guiding them using our own experience and expertise and connecting them with other leaders as well as possible funding help,” he said.
“Bringing more manufacturing work to the region, helping the sector thrive, this is all part of building Queensland as the home of manufacturing in Australia.”
Demonstrating the Palaszczuk Government’s strong commitment to manufacturing, the Queensland Manufacturing Hubs received permanent funding, to the tune of $17 million, so they can continue to support regional manufacturers to grow their businesses and create local jobs.
“The Hubs are bringing together stakeholders to collaborate and grow regional manufacturing,” Mr Butcher said.
“Building local businesses, strengthening their capacity and capability helps local economies by delivering long-term, local jobs,” Mr Butcher said.
More than $54 million has been awarded through Queensland Manufacturing Hub and Made in Queensland Grants, creating or supporting more than 5,500 jobs.
“Our government is focused on delivering critical support to regional manufacturers, after the COVID-19 pandemic, to make sure they have the tools they need to grow and thrive,” Mr Butcher said.
“Australian companies are increasingly looking to local manufacturers to step up and fill gaps exposed in supply chains, so it’s fantastic to see these manufacturing businesses in regional Queensland build and grow, to meet demand.”
