Grants available for Maranoa food and beverage manufacturers

January 25, 2022

Small and medium food and beverage manufacturers in Maranoa can apply for a grant of up to $25,000 to save money on energy bills, improve energy efficiency and adopt new energy technologies under the latest $19.9 million round of the Energy Efficient Communities (EEC) program.

Federal Member David Littleproud said the funding will help manufacturing businesses lower their power bills and emissions.

“Grants can be used to replace existing equipment with more energy efficient models, carry out energy audits, or improve energy monitoring and management,” Mr Littleproud said.

The food and beverage manufacturing industry is the largest manufacturing sector in Australia, contributing around $22.4 billion to the economy. The Australian Government is supporting this vital sector of the economy as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The program targets food and beverage manufacturers, which include some of the most energy intensive small and medium businesses in Australia,” he said.

“It’s because they’re the engine room of the economy employing 1 in 4 manufacturing workers, that the Coalition Government is backing food and beverage manufacturers to be competitive through grants to lower their power costs and slash emissions as part of the solution to Australia’s carbon neutral future.

“Reducing needless energy consumption also cuts emissions and is at the heart of the Government’s focus on technology, not taxes, because it boosts competitiveness, creates new jobs and reduces Australia’s environmental footprint.”

Applications close on 18 February 2022 or earlier if funding is exhausted prior.

More information, grant guidelines and application forms are available at www.business.gov.au/EECFB, or telephone on 13 28 46.