Grants available for food and beverage manufacturers

Small and medium food and beverage manufacturers can now apply for a grant of up to $25,000 each under the latest $19.9 million round of the Australian Government’s Energy Efficient Communities (EEC) program.

The grants can be used to replace existing equipment with more energy-efficient models, carry out energy audits, or improve energy monitoring and management — helping manufacturing businesses lower their power bills and emissions.

Assistant Minister to the Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Tim Wilson said the program targets food and beverage manufacturers, which include some of the most energy-intensive small and medium businesses in Australia.

“It’s because they’re the engine room of the economy employing one in four manufacturing workers, that the Morrison 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,” Assistant Minister Wilson said.

“We’re supporting fantastic Aussie manufacturers like Bellevue Orchard based in Officer, Victoria. Businesses like this and others around the country will benefit from investing in new energy-efficient technologies and by understanding their energy consumption more thoroughly.”

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.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Ivan Traimak