
Supports agriculture, food and beverage businesses to invest in expansion or relocation of their manufacturing operations in WA.
To date, $17.56 million has been committed by the State Government grants over three grant rounds supporting 66 value-adding food and beverage businesses with high-growth potential to invest in new projects or expansion opportunities to build competitiveness and grow business opportunities in Western Australia. This has unlocked $152 million in private sector investment and created an estimated 909 new jobs.
As part of the State’s broader economic development and recovery post-pandemic, VAIG Round Two aims to strengthen and diversify the WA economy by supporting investments in new manufacturing capability which result in reducing WA’s reliance on imported products, supports business growth, fosters innovation and creates jobs.
The Program aims to support agriculture, food and beverage businesses to expand, diversify or relocate their value-add processing operations in Western Australia. This can include:
– Investments in new manufacturing capability or processing facilities, new technology or plant modernisation which results in reducing WA’s reliance on imported products, supports business growth, fosters innovation and creates jobs;
– Investments that improve sustainability, reduce the environmental impact of the manufacturing or processing activities being undertaken or contributes to improvements in broader environmental, social, and governance outcomes;
– Investments that enable expansion or diversification of business operations that relate to value adding to primary production in WA; or
– Businesses looking to relocate operations to, or expand existing operations in, WA.
Round Three has up to $6 million in funding available. Businesses can access support through two different funding streams:
1. Feasibility stream (closes 30 June 2025)
– The Feasibility stream provides the opportunity for eligible businesses to receive funding for planning, feasibility and other de-risking activities which a business plans to use to support an investment decision for qualifying capital expenditure and expansion projects relating to food and beverage manufacturing or other forms of value add processing. Projects must align to the stated objectives of the VAIG program and are for projects commencing no earlier than June 2024
– Up to $500,000 will be made available with individual grants of $15,000 to $100,000 available. Recipients must provide a 30% Cash Co-Contribution
– Aboriginal business applicants that do not have a 30% cash contribution towards the project but can demonstrate in-kind and/or a lesser cash leverage may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
2. Capital Investment stream (closes 3 May 2024)
– This stream will provide funds to eligible applicants for capital investment projects to expand, diversify or relocate their value adding and processing operations in WA. Projects must align to the stated objectives of the VAIG and be delivered by 28 February 2026
– There will be one funding round with up to $5.5 million available for individual grants of $500,000 to $1,000,000. Recipients must provide at least $1 of cash co-contribution for every $1 of funding (1:1) received
– Aboriginal business applicants that do not have a 50% cash contribution towards the project but can demonstrate in-kind and/or a lesser cash leverage may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Eligibility:
– Be a private sector business (including incorporated trustees), public companies, grower cooperatives, or similar organisations that have an ABN, and are registered for GST
– The project must be located in, or looking to relocate to, regional and/or metropolitan WA
– Have been in operation for a minimum of twelve months (Feasibility Stream) or two years (Capital Investment Stream) or a similar established track record.