12 Victorian manufacturing companies will share $6.47 million in grants from the $33 million Local Industry Fund for Transition (LIFT) to create more than 200 new jobs for retrenched automotive workers across Melbourne.
Tullamarine-based Alba Cheese is the latest recipient of a LIFT grant which the company will use to buy a new manufacturing plant to boost productivity and employ 15 new workers.
This will allow the family-owned business to increase milk production from 70,000 litres to 160,000 a day, and to make 2800 kilograms of mozzarella an hour, up from 700 kilograms.
Other companies to receive the commercial-in-confidence LIFT grants are:
- Komipharm International in Dandenong South for pharmaceutical manufacturing;
- BEV Plastics in Braeside to purchase two new moulding machines;
- Shiny Embroidery in Fairfield to buy embroidery and screen printing machines;
- WE-EF Lighting Pty Ltd in Braeside to buy an assembly plant;
- Kitchen Innovations in Campbellfield for new machinery and manufacturing systems;
- Eco Garage Doors in Hallam for new equipment;
- Ace Wire Works in Hallam for equipment to expand and diversify;
- Australian Crane and Machinery in Campbellfield for a new facility and machinery;
- Tanning Essentials in Thomastown to expand and buy new equipment;
- Jaze Nominees in Seaford for new concrete manufacturing equipment;
- Encore Tissue to buy a new manufacturing line.
In announcing the LIFT grants, Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan said the program has helped create 450 jobs this year alone, with more than 350 new jobs on the horizon.
“Victoria needed a bold plan to get former auto industry workers into new jobs and we have delivered,” Mr Nonan added.
“We are turning the decline in car manufacturing into a win for other industries, and importantly, for workers.”
