More grants for Australian TCF sector
According to Australia’s innovation minister, Senator Kim Carr, 68 small businesses across the country will receive grants of $2.6 million in total as part of the government’s textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) small business programme. Grants will range from $11,000 to $50,000 and are designed to focus on improving the business enterprise culture of TCF small businesses.
“The future of Australia’s TCF industry lies in becoming more agile, innovative and entrepreneurial,” Senator Carr said. "It is about the development of new products and processes, especially at the high-tech, high-value end of the market.
Successful projects include: Nundle Woollen Mill, based in Nundle, New South Wales, which will receive $50,000 to implement an enterprise management system and procedure development to make its woollen products more commercially competitive; Bima Wear Association on Bathurst Island, Northern Territory, which will be given $33,660 for computer-aided indigenous silkscreen design and development; and Deft Division in Kensington, Victoria, which will receive $37,500 to develop market intelligence and export tools to generate new opportunities in offshore men’s street and surf wear markets.
“This round has been extremely competitive, with over 250 businesses applying for grants,” said Senator Carr. “This strong response from our local small businesses shows that the TCF sector is keen to embrace a culture of innovation and enterprise. The Rudd Government will continue to work in partnership with the sector to foster vital innovation. The latest budget included a retargeted, $401 million TCF package, with $55 million redirected towards innovation and $10 million in new funding."
