Good jobs headed for Western Downs with expansion of manufacturer
1 September 2022
A state-of the art agricultural manufacturing facility is set to create good jobs in the Western Downs region thanks to funding under the Queensland Government’s Rural Economic Development (RED) Grant scheme.
Morrissey & Co is a family owned and run business which manufactures cattle handling equipment. The business has secured a RED Grant to help fund the expansion of its operations and commission new, innovative equipment.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner MP says this expansion will undoubtedly create more good jobs.
“Job growth in regional communities is critical in providing economic stimulus and encouraging skilled workers to the regions and is essential for the survival of small towns,” Mr Furner said.
“Morrissey & Co is already one of the leading employers in Jandowae. Further job growth through this project will boost the entire local economy.”
“The innovative equipment produced by Morrissey & Co has been an integral part of the beef cattle industry for over 70 years. This investment will see both domestic and international demands of this cattle handling equipment being met.”
Sean Morrissey, Director of Morrissey & Co says the expansion of Morrissey & Co’s existing infrastructure will assist the wider beef cattle industry across Australia and overseas.
“We are currently limited in our ability to produce goods to meet demand, manufacture certain materials, sizes and shapes. But by using this funding to build a new shed, increase our painting facility area, provide new facilities for staff and build new offices, we will have stronger capability to meet this demand.
“We’ll be taking on nine new long-term full-time jobs as a direct result of the expansion and we will be employing local first, and then encouraging skilled workers to join the community.
“We are ready to deliver a new facility project that will provide a much-needed boost to jobs in our local, small regional town and will also have a direct, positive flow-on effect to employment across the Western Downs.”
Morrissey & Co is one of 16 businesses approved in the fourth round of the Rural Economic Development (RED) Grants program with total funding of just over $3 million. Overall, these 16 projects are expected to create more than 217 direct long-term jobs across regional Queensland.
The initial three rounds of the RED Grants Program have seen funding of $10 million over three years to support more than 30 projects which have created 1,800 jobs across regional Queensland.
The Palaszczuk Government has continued its investment with a further $6.6 million to be delivered in two rounds over the next two years to generate even more jobs, expand agricultural supply chains and provide significant economic benefit to rural areas.
The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) administers the RED Grant scheme on behalf of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.
