BRISBANE, Queensland, Aug. 25 -- The Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet issued text of the following statement:

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines, Minister for Manufacturing and Minister for Regional and Rural Development

The Honourable Dale Last

* Central Queenslandmining equipment supplierwill be thefirst manufacturer to receivefunding under new Transforming Queensland Manufacturing Grant Program. * 18 manufacturers awarded grants from $12.5 million inaugural round, including 11 based in regional Queensland. * Grants for new advanced manufacturing equipment and software will empower Queensland's advanced manufacturing capabilities and supporting local jobs. * TheCrisafulli Government isdeliveringmore jobs andbetter services through a stronger economyafter a decade of decline under Labor.

TheCrisafulliGovernment has announced the first recipient of its $79.1 million Transforming Queensland Manufacturing Grant Programwith Yeppoon-based CQFiberglassDirect to receiveup to $113,000 in funding.

Theprogram, launched by theCrisafulliGovernment,willhelp grow Queensland'sadvanced manufacturing capabilitiesand skills,as well as supportlocal jobs.

CQ Fiberglass Direct supplies high-performance ventilation products to underground coal mines and fiberglass products to the maritime industry.

The company will use the grant to install an automated advanced fibre composite manufacturing system, which will reduce waste, improve productivity and meet growing demand for its products.

The project is expected to create seven new jobs and lead the upskilling of CQ Fiberglass Direct's entire workforce.

It'sjust one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is deliveringmore jobs andbetter services through a stronger economy after a decade of decline under Labor.

A total of $12.5 million has been awardedin theinaugural grantround to 18 manufacturers with 11 of those businesses based in regional Queensland.For the first time, more than half of the funding has been awarded exclusively to regional manufacturers.

Minister for Manufacturing Dale Last said the Crisafulli Government was committed todelivering forregional Queensland manufacturers.

"Some of our best innovators and hardest workers are basedinregional Queensland and these grants are about giving them an opportunity to take theirmanufacturing businessesto the next stage," Minister Last said.

"We had an astounding 119 companies apply for the first round of grants. This is a major vote of confidence in the Crisafulli Government's vision to supercharge Queensland's manufacturing industry.

"All 18 grant recipientsrepresentthe variety ofQueensland's manufacturing sector -from food and beverageto construction and resource companies, medicalsuppliersand skincare manufacturers -we'vegot it all here in Queensland.

"We want these grants to lift productivity, support exportopportunitiesand create secure jobs right across Queensland. The successful projects are expected to create more than 300 new jobs and lead to the upskilling of more than 550 existing workers.

"Unlike Labor, the Crisafulli Government knows Queensland doesn't start and end inBrisbanewhich is why we have ensured that at least half of the fundingwasdedicated to regional manufacturers."

Member for Keppel Nigel Hutton said the grants would playan important rolein growing manufacturing capabilities for regional hubs like Yeppoon.

"Labor failed to deliver for the Keppelregion,andthese grants are giving towns like Yeppoon the opportunity to progress ahead at the same speed as their southeast Queensland counterparts and future-proof their operations," Mr Hutton said.

"Regional Queensland is home to some of the most vital manufacturing businesses across ourState - from agriculture to resources, transport, foodsupplyand defence - these industries are critical.

"CQ Fiberglass Direct plays an importantrolein Queensland's coal mining industry and with this support they're ready to take the next step in meeting growing demand for their products."

CQ Fiberglass Directco-ownerStevenTrevorsaid the grant would be transformational for his regionalmanufacturing business.

"We are veryhonouredto be the first recipient of this new grant.Receiving this will allow us to upgrade our equipment andreplace labour intensive manual batching with newadvancedsystems and equipment," Mr Trevor said.

"This funding has the power to transform the way we do business and with access toadditionalcapital to upgrade our equipment,we will be able toredirectexisting resources to advance other areas of our business.

"We are constantly looking for ways to advance our manufacturing technologies to lift productivity and strengthen the regional supply chain here in Yeppoon,and I am grateful the Queensland Government has awarded us this grant to support our ongoing efforts in this space."

The program will continue to be delivered over the next two and a half yearswith round two expected to open soon.

ENDS

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Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.