- More than $5.2 million in manufacturing grants delivering 20 projects, creating and supporting more than 500 jobs across Mackay
- Mackay manufacturer, Macs Engineering was awarded $200,000 through the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program
- Macs Engineering encouraging manufacturers to take advantage of funding
Mackay manufacturers have received more than $5.2 million in funding across 20 projects, through the highly successful Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program (MHGP), Made in Queensland (MIQ) program and Manufacturing Energy Efficiency Grants. The funding has created and supported more than 500 manufacturing jobs across the region.
Assistant Minister Bruce Saunders visited Mackay-based steel and aluminum vehicle tray bodies manufacturer Macs Engineering to congratulate them for receiving $200,000. The funding is part of the Miles Government's MHGP program and has enabled the businesses to purchase and install a Bystronic Xpert Pro 150/3100 press brake and accessories.
The press brake bends sheet metal and has been pivotal to helping the business reduce lead times and increase production capacity. The equipment has seen the business put on 5 new full-time jobs so far.
Assistant Minister Saunders will also visit Mackay manufacturing business, One Industries who have also been successful in the MHGP, receiving $180,000 which will help create 46 new jobs.
The Miles Government continues to build on this vital support for manufacturers across the state with new funding announced in the 2024-25 Queensland Budget, allocating a further $5 million for the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program; taking the total investment in MHGP to $33.5 million, and $20 million for the Made in Queensland program, taking the total investment for the MiQ program to $121.5 million.
As stated by Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing, Minister for Water, Glenn Butcher:
"Mackay is a local manufacturing powerhouse, and the Miles Labor Government is delivering support to help businesses in the region grow.
"Our grant programs are proven winners when it comes to driving the kind of results we want to see for manufacturers – levelling up operations to become more productive, adopting advanced manufacturing technologies and creating good industry jobs.
"Our government has already committed $5.2 million towards projects that are enabling this region's manufacturers, including Macs Engineering, to achieve just that."
As stated by Assistant Minister for Train Manufacturing, Regional Development and Jobs, Bruce Saunders:
"We know Queensland-made products are top-of-the-line and we want to ensure more regional Queensland manufacturers, like Macs, have the means to set themselves up for future growth and success.
"Manufacturers can't trust the LNP. When they were in government, grant programs were cut and 10,000 manufacturing jobs disappeared in Queensland. Manufacturing has been forgotten by the LNP – no mention in their budget reply, no plan. Under the LNP, funding gets cut and jobs go overseas.
"Only Labor knows investment in manufacturing, means more jobs for Queenslanders."
As stated by Member for Mackay, Julieanne Gilbert:
"This funding helps manufacturers take advantage of contemporary technologies to level up their operations and create new jobs – and Macs Engineering is no different.
"I'm so pleased to see businesses in my electorate, like Macs, benefit from this cost-of-living measure – every piece of equipment we help fund, is vital relief for these manufacturers."
As stated by Macs Engineering General Manager, Ross Fredrickson:
"This grant has given us the opportunity to buy the brake press and expand our capacity and capability. We now only program a job in once, rather than having to program it into the laser cutter and then into the brake press, reducing time and increasing efficiency.
"Our customers responded quickly and we've added five new permanent positions as we've taken on a greater volume of work.
"This is the sort of support that businesses need – help to buy equipment that scales the business up and helps it grow in an organic, planned way."
