THREE local business proposals were among 56 projects named as successful applicants to the Tasmania Jobs and Investment Fund today. The $24 million joint Australian-Tasmanian government fund is hoped to generate 774 new jobs and $92.6 million in investment.
The headline project is The Agrarian Kitchen’s proposal to develop an eatery, store and function area at Willow Court in New Norfolk. The business will receive $130,000 towards the $390,000 project which is expected to create 13 jobs.
B.G. and J.M. Barwick Pty Ltd of Granton will receive $144,334 for its $433,000 development of a used tyre shredding business at Bridgewater. This will involved the construction of a concrete tyre-holding bay and purchase of necessary equipment. Two and a half jobs will be created.
Stefano Lubiana Wines, also based at Granton, has been allocated $283,793 towards an $851,380 project in the Huon Valley. Four jobs are the anticipated outcome of the Lubiana family’s proposal to redevelop a defunct winery and purchase vineyard equipment at Cradoc.
Competition for the so-called “Cadbury money” was said to have been strong, with 140 applications reportedly received. For every dollar granted to the successful applicants, they must contribute at least $2 of their own money. $16 million of they money had originally been promised to Cadburys for a long-since abandoned expansion of the visitor centre at its Cadbury factory.
Premier Will Hodgman said the fund had sparked a new atmosphere of optimism in the state. “It is particularly encouraging that all applicants were prepared to put a significant amount of their own funding towards the proposed projects,” Mr Hodgman said.
