A major Toowoomba employer will create more than 30 new direct and indirect jobs thanks to a project supported by a Palaszczuk Government Rural Economic Development Grant.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said PB Agrifood at Wilsonton would need up to 11 new workers to operate a high-tech individual grain colour sorter, capable of processing previously sub-par grains to meet food standard.
A further 20 indirect ongoing jobs will also be created as a result of the project, which has been supported by a grant of more than $210,000.
The business was one of 15 in Queensland to receive up to a $250,000 Rural Economic Development (RED) Grant to help fund the expansion of their business and create job growth in regional areas.
“This transformative project will allow the company to capture an ever-expanding export and domestic market for food grade grain, flour, and other products while allowing for value-adding of lower quality grain and allow by-products to be utilised in stockfeed,” Mr Furner said.
“The new roles will return money to the region, increase employment opportunities and provide additional marketing opportunities for Queensland grown grains and pulses.”
“These grants show how the Palaszczuk Government is supporting regional Queensland businesses today and growing our economy for the future.”
PB Agrifood managing director Peter Brodie said the project was a joint effort from company staff and was aimed at capturing the expanding high value export food market using a high-tech individual grain colour sorter.
He said the project was developed to overcome issues associated with increased quality customers were demanding.
“The new colour sorter will give even greater ability to differentiate grain quality as well as sorting on size and shape, allowing more tailored products for the customer,” Mr Brodie said.
“In the past five years customer quality demands have increased greatly while at the same time colour sorter technology has leapt forward and now includes not only colour but size and shape sorting capabilities.”
Chickpea, mungbean, soybean, linseed, sorghum, corn and sesame crop producers are expected to benefit from the project through increased cashflow and documented crop rotational advantages.
The Rural Economic Development Grant program offers emerging projects up to $250,000 in co-contributions to build industry and grow employment opportunities across the agricultural sector. The $10 million grants program provides for three funding rounds over a three-year period ending 2021.
A total of 15 businesses have received $3.3 million under the first-round of funding for the RED Grant program. Overall these 15 projects are expected to create more than 600 jobs across the agricultural sector in regional Queensland.
Funding for Round 2 of the RED Grants will be announced later this year.
The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) administer the RED Grant scheme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
