{"id":262986,"date":"2020-07-03T17:55:35","date_gmt":"2020-07-03T07:55:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=262986"},"modified":"2020-07-03T17:55:35","modified_gmt":"2020-07-03T07:55:35","slug":"deadline-looms-for-ag-grants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/07\/03\/deadline-looms-for-ag-grants\/","title":{"rendered":"Deadline Looms For Ag Grants"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Agriculture Minister Mark Furner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 3, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rural agricultural businesses have been invited to apply for funding for projects covered by the\u00a0State Government’s $10 million\u00a0Rural Economic Development (RED) grants scheme.<\/p>\n

Expressions of interest must be submitted before midnight on July 10.<\/p>\n

Round 3 of RED grants, which are administered by the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority, is now open.<\/p>\n

Co-contribution grants of up to $250,000 are available for food and agricultural businesses to support “shovel-ready\u2019” projects that create jobs for value-added primary production and provide significant economic benefits to rural and regional communities.<\/p>\n

Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said 28 businesses received a total of $6.32 million during Rounds 1 and 2 over the past two years.<\/p>\n

Overall these 28 projects were expected to create 1200 jobs across the agricultural sector in regional Queensland.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been some truly innovative and forward-thinking shovel-ready projects able to come to life across the State,\u201d Mr Furner said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cBlistering summer heat impacting vegetable crops in the Lockyer Valley has forced a grower to invest heavily in climate control infrastructure to ensure they can meet demand and grow their work force.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn North Queensland, at Marilyn Harbour, a barramundi farm will triple production when they build an intensive barramundi nursery capable of housing one million fish a year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Emerald, plans to reinvent old-school butcher values while introducing a boutique supermarket and meat hub to the rural town will depend on up to 24 full-time workers in a range of new roles.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are just some of the projects able to get off the ground with a RED Grant and now is the time for other rural business to secure their interest in the third round of the program.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Furner said to be eligible to apply for Round 3, applicants must propose an agricultural supply chain project based in regional Queensland that would generate economic growth and local jobs.<\/p>\n