Deadline extended on job-creating regional grants program

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities The Honourable Mark Furner

The Queensland Government has extended the deadline for expressions of interest in its job-creating Rural Economic Development Grants program so flood-affected primary producers don’t miss out.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said expressions of interest for the $3.3m fourth round of the popular RED Grants would now be due by Monday, 20 December, 2021.

“These grants are designed to support producers and businesses with significant projects that will create jobs in rural and regional Queensland, and we don’t want great projects to miss out because of difficulties with flooding,” Mr Furner said.

“These grants help existing agricultural businesses to value-add and expand their capacity and create more jobs in rural communities.

“Agriculture is an essential industry in Queensland and a vital part of Queensland’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan.”

Rural Economic Development Grants provide co-contributions up to $200,000 for food and agricultural businesses to support projects that create jobs related to value added primary production and provide significant economic benefits to rural and regional communities.

The first three rounds of the RED Grant program invested $10m in Queensland agricultural businesses and supported more than 1,800 regional jobs.

Applications for expressions of interest need to be submitted to the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority by 11.59pm Monday 20 December 2021.

In early February, QRIDA will advise outcomes and successful EOI submissions will be invited to submit a full application. Successful recipients will be announced in 2022.

The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) administer the RED Grants program on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF).

/Public Release. View in full here.