Government and industry invest in Tassie food producers

The Tasmanian food industry has received a boost as part of a $40 million investment in the state. More than 400 jobs will reportedly be created by a $13 million Australian Government Innovation and Investment Fund and $27 million in matching investment by local businesses.

Grant recipients include:

• George Town Seafoods, which received $420,000 towards a $1.3 million project to expand its salmon processing facility. The project will create an estimated 14 new jobs.
• National Pies, which will receive $695,000 to purchase freezing equipment and manufacturing, supporting access to wider markets. The $1.8 million project will create 12 ongoing jobs.
• SD Reid Holdings, which will use a grant of $1.14 million to establish a $4.45 million undercover cherry orchard, extending the production season. The project is expected to create 30 new jobs.

“Tasmanian businesses are ideally placed to meet growing demand for clean food, diversified tourism facilities and quality professional services locally, on the mainland and internationally,” said Tasmanian MP Andrew Nikolic.

The grants were awarded through a competitive, merit-based process to ensure that funded projects are commercially robust. More information about the Australian Government Innovation and Investment Fund is available from http://business.gov.au/agiift.