- Twelve Mid
West projects to share in $1.2 million Regional Economic Development (RED)
Grant funding
- Cook Government investments support regional job creation in
agribusiness, tourism, hospitality,
manufacturing, childcare, environmental and training sectors
Twelve Mid West projects will share in $1.2 million funding to help build
regional business resilience and economic diversity under Round 7 of the Cook
Government's Regional Economic Development Grants program.
The RED Grants program is investing $55.85 million over nine years toward
locally driven projects to stimulate economic growth in the regions.
The announcement was made by Regional Development Minister Don Punch today at
the Batavia Coast Maritime Institute in Geraldton, alongside the successful Mid
West recipients.
The institute will collaborate with the Coral Maker project, an innovative
start-up receiving a $48,800 RED Grant for coral reef restoration research and
development.
The project is developing scalable solutions for the restoration,
installation, and relocation of coral reefs to enhance their resilience in the
face of climate change.
The first coral plots are set to be deployed in 2026, supporting local
workforce development with up to seven new jobs and a partnership with the YSRC
Sea Rangers program.
Also among the group of Round 7 recipients is Dongara-based Grader
Investments Pty Ltd, which has been awarded $250,000 for the extension and
upgrade of Ready Set Grow Child Care Centre.
The funding will support the construction of a larger facility to meet the
high demand for
childcare in the region, accommodating an additional nine children and
three new employees at the facility upon completion.
A $150,000 grant awarded to Sedona WA will see the expansion of the Dongara
Tourist Park, with an additional eight ensuite cabins constructed to address
ongoing, unmet demand for accommodation in the town.
The project will create ongoing employment for housekeeping staff to
service the increased accommodation and expand capacity for the town to
accommodate tourists and workers supporting other industries in Dongara.
The Midwest Aboriginal Media Association will use their $110,795
grant to develop a Regional Indigenous Broadcasting Hub in
Geraldton, serving audiences in the Mid West, Murchison, and Gascoyne regions. The
funding will cover costs to hire a consultant for facility acquisition, upgrade
equipment, and establish a Starlink connection.
The project will create up to four trainee positions and provide training
and employment pathways for Indigenous youth, as well as enhancing media
services to improve connectivity and skills development.
A $100,000 grant awarded to GBSC will see the expansion of the Geraldton Modular Homes Factory, to help fast track the rollout
of housing in the Greater Geraldton area.
The funding will enable the builder to create an undercover, all-weather workspace
for the construction of modular houses, enhancing their capability of modular
housing manufacturing and creating 20 new direct jobs in the first 12 months of
operation.
The project is expected to attract new investment to Geraldton, reducing
reliance on Perth for these manufacturing services and enhancing local
technical skills through the new facility.
Successful projects in Round 7 will diversify the accommodation and tourism
offering in the Mid West, and support regional job creation in the childcare, manufacturing,
training, environmental and agribusiness sectors.
Comments attributed to Regional Development
Minister Don Punch:
"The Regional Economic Development Grants offer a unique opportunity to
diversify our regional economies and create new jobs and sustainable employment
opportunities.
"Improving access to childcare and housing is a major priority for the
Cook Government, as is making our regional towns more liveable by attracting
investment into locally based services in the regions.
"Since the inception of this program, the WA Labor Government has
invested more than $4.6 million dollars in 37 locally driven projects in the Mid
West, helping to build a better region for the local community.
"With a record $10 million on offer for Round 7 'Mega REDs', we are
fostering regional development that is making meaningful change, creating real
jobs and diversifying regional economies."
Comments attributed to Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton:
"Congratulations to all the successful REDs recipients this year - the
diverse range of Mid West projects reflects the robust, thriving, and
innovative work happening across the region.
"It's also pleasing to see our smaller Mid West communities - Kalbarri, Perenjori
and Dongara - are well-supported in this round, with projects that deliver
significant expansions to essential services, such as accommodation and
childcare, and tourism opportunities.
"I'm
thrilled to see such a diversity of projects supported through the RED Grants
and look forward to seeing them prosper and grow through this funding."
Successful Round 7 RED Grant recipients - Mid
West
