$100,000 Fed Gov’t grant to help Chinchilla energy services provider

April 29, 2020

Chinchilla-based business RiE will make use of a $100,000 Manufacturing Modernisation Fund (MMF) grant to help boost its ability to test equipment in the coal seam gas and energy sectors, Maranoa MP David Littleproud said today.

“One of my top goals as the Maranoa MP is to see our businesses meeting their potential through improved infrastructure,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Congratulations to RiE, for their foresight and determination to grow their business and boost production to serve more clients in the Surat and Eromanga regions.

“With the help of this $100,000 grant, RiE will set up a testing laboratory in Roma, a mobile service to support drilling and exploration clients in more remote areas, buy a 4WD to reach clients in isolated areas and improve their current service capacity.

“This is an exciting time for RiE who employ local people to meet the needs in the CSG and energy sector.

“It’s this type of innovation that helps cement a future, job opportunities for our youth, so that they can build a life and home in Chinchilla or other parts of the Surat Basin.”

Two hundred projects worth more than $215 million dollars are being supported through the MMF. The Federal Government is contributing $48.3 million.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the projects are expected to create 2,600 Australian jobs and were about preparing Australian manufacturing beyond COVID-19 and the challenges of today.

“We established the MMF before the coronavirus pandemic to help small and medium sized manufacturers invest in capital equipment and new technologies to transform and upgrade their manufacturing operations,” Minister Andrews said.

The MMF builds on other Federal Government investments in manufacturing growth and competitiveness, including the $100 million Advanced Manufacturing Fund, the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, the Entrepreneurs’ Programme, and the $40 million Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre.

For more information on the Manufacturing Modernisation Fund visit www.business.gov.au/MMF.

ENDS