The WA Government unveiled a $10 million package to boost Western Australian businesses impacted by COVID-19 and increase the supply of locally made PPE.
WA Premier Mark McGowan released three new rounds from the Local Capability Fund to help COVID-affected businesses and improve the WA business community’s capacity and competitiveness to manufacture PPE.
Under the $6.5 million COVID-19 Business Recovery and Growth round, co-funding of up to $100,000 a business is available to support any Western Australian SME impacted by the pandemic to build their capacity and competitiveness.
Funding can be used for things such as upgrading plant and equipment, upskilling staff, improving business infrastructure, and engaging specialists to help with a range of needs including developing online sales solutions and cyber security.
Under the $3 million PPE Manufacturing round, a co-funding grant of up to $500,000 per business is available to help SMEs who want to manufacture PPE such as masks, face visors, coveralls and ventilators.
The PPE Market Feasibility round will allocate up to $20,000 a business to undertake an independent feasibility study into the viability of a business’ PPE-manufacturing proposal.
Since 2011, the 21 Local Capability Fund rounds has resulted in $6.79 million being committed to 395 SMEs, creating more than 800 jobs, 135 apprenticeships and $457.7 million in contract awards.
For more information, visit the WA Industry Link portal at https://industrylink.wa.gov.au or the Grants and Funding Opportunities page of the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation website at http://www.jtsi.wa.gov.au/grantsandfunding
Source: WA Government