- Twelve Mid West projects to share in $1.2 million Regional Economic Development (RED) Grant funding
- Cook Government investments support regional job creation in agribusiness, tourism, hospitality, manufacturing, childcare, environmental and training sectors
Twelve Mid West projects will share in $1.2 million funding to help build regional business resilience and economic diversity under Round 7 of the Cook Government’s Regional Economic Development Grants program.
The RED Grants program is investing $55.85 million over nine years toward locally driven projects to stimulate economic growth in the regions.
The announcement was made by Regional Development Minister Don Punch today at the Batavia Coast Maritime Institute in Geraldton, alongside the successful Mid West recipients.
The institute will collaborate with the Coral Maker project, an innovative start-up receiving a $48,800 RED Grant for coral reef restoration research and development.
The project is developing scalable solutions for the restoration, installation, and relocation of coral reefs to enhance their resilience in the face of climate change.
The first coral plots are set to be deployed in 2026, supporting local workforce development with up to seven new jobs and a partnership with the YSRC Sea Rangers program.
Also among the group of Round 7 recipients is Dongara-based Grader Investments Pty Ltd, which has been awarded $250,000 for the extension and upgrade of Ready Set Grow Child Care Centre.
The funding will support the construction of a larger facility to meet the high demand for
childcare in the region, accommodating an additional nine children and three new employees at the facility upon completion.
A $150,000 grant awarded to Sedona WA will see the expansion of the Dongara Tourist Park, with an additional eight ensuite cabins constructed to address ongoing, unmet demand for accommodation in the town.
The project will create ongoing employment for housekeeping staff to service the increased accommodation and expand capacity for the town to accommodate tourists and workers supporting other industries in Dongara.
The Midwest Aboriginal Media Association will use their $110,795 grant to develop a Regional Indigenous Broadcasting Hub in Geraldton, serving audiences in the Mid West, Murchison, and Gascoyne regions. The funding will cover costs to hire a consultant for facility acquisition, upgrade equipment, and establish a Starlink connection.
The project will create up to four trainee positions and provide training and employment pathways for Indigenous youth, as well as enhancing media services to improve connectivity and skills development.
A $100,000 grant awarded to GBSC will see the expansion of the Geraldton Modular ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s Factory, to help fast track the rollout of housing in the Greater Geraldton area.
The funding will enable the builder to create an undercover, all-weather workspace for the construction of modular houses, enhancing their capability of modular housing manufacturing and creating 20 new direct jobs in the first 12 months of operation.
The project is expected to attract new investment to Geraldton, reducing reliance on Perth for these manufacturing services and enhancing local technical skills through the new facility.
Successful projects in Round 7 will diversify the accommodation and tourism offering in the Mid West, and support regional job creation in the childcare, manufacturing, training, environmental and agribusiness sectors.
As stated by Regional Development Minister Don Punch:
“The Regional Economic Development Grants offer a unique opportunity to diversify our regional economies and create new jobs and sustainable employment opportunities.
“Improving access to childcare and housing is a major priority for the Cook Government, as is making our regional towns more liveable by attracting investment into locally based services in the regions.
“Since the inception of this program, the WA Labor Government has invested more than $4.6 million dollars in 37 locally driven projects in the Mid West, helping to build a better region for the local community.
“With a record $10 million on offer for Round 7 ‘Mega REDs’, we are fostering regional development that is making meaningful change, creating real jobs and diversifying regional economies.”
As stated by Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton:
“Congratulations to all the successful REDs recipients this year – the diverse range of Mid West projects reflects the robust, thriving, and innovative work happening across the region.
“It’s also pleasing to see our smaller Mid West communities – Kalbarri, Perenjori and Dongara – are well-supported in this round, with projects that deliver significant expansions to essential services, such as accommodation and childcare, and tourism opportunities.
“I’m thrilled to see such a diversity of projects supported through the RED Grants and look forward to seeing them prosper and grow through this funding.”
Successful Round 7 RED Grant recipients – Mid West
Grant Applicant | Project | Grant Amount |
Grader Investments Pty Ltd | Extension and upgrade of Ready Set Grow Child Care Centre Dongara | $250,000 |
The Trustee for The Geraldton Property Trust | African Reef Resort Redevelopment | $150,000 |
Sedona WA | Dongara Tourist Park Expansion | $150,000 |
Midwest Aboriginal Media Association | Regional Indigenous Broadcasting Hub Phase 1 | $110,795 |
Spectrolab Pty Ltd | Spectrolab Services Expansion | $100,000 |
DIAB Engineering | Cobot Welding | $100,000 |
GBSC | Geraldton Modular ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s Factory | $100,000 |
The Trustee for the FinlayTrading Trust | Enhancing Community Spaces and Supporting Local Produce for Regional Growth | $82,806 |
The Perenjori Trust | The Perenjori Hotel Outdoor Expansion | $53,805 |
Aquila Holdings (WA) PtyLtd | L150 Industrial Wash Water Storage & Recycling | $50,000 |
Coral Maker Pty Ltd | Research and development for coral reef restoration | $48,800 |
Abrolhos Aquaculture Australia Pty Ltd | Hatchery Production of selected Blacklip Pearl Oyster spat for Industry | $45,000 |
