• Vouchers of up to $20,000 available to help food and beverage businesses scale
• Investment set to create jobs across the State
• Businesses looking to become more sustainable are encouraged to apply

The Cook Government is helping Western Australian food and beverage businesses to grow through a fresh round of funding.

Agrifood and Beverage Vouchers of up $20,000 per business are now available as part of an ongoing investment by the State Government into small to medium-sized business across WA.

Business owners who want to expand their operations can use the vouchers to access expert marketing, financial and broader business advice.

Operators looking to become more sustainable through carbon audits and emission reduction strategies can also apply for vouchers to seek guidance in the emerging area, as customers become more discerning.

Breweries, bakeries, cafés as well as meat and speciality food manufacturers and processors have all benefited from previous rounds of the funding.

Beckenham-based Mancini Pasta used its 2022 voucher to increase sales, enabling the family-owned operation to create four more full time jobs.

This long-running program has helped drive turnover, capital investment, employment and business confidence over the past five years.

An evaluation survey found that on average each voucher resulted in the employment of 1 additional full time equivalent staff in regional areas, and an additional $485,000 of business revenue.

To date, the State Government has provided more than 280 vouchers worth $1.4 million.

For more information and to apply for an Agrifood and Beverage Voucher visit www.agric.wa.gov.au/AFBvoucherprogram. Applications close 5pm, Monday 4 December 2023.

Comments attributed to Small Business; Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:

"This valuable program helps reduce risk for WA family businesses, so they can confidently explore opportunities to grow.

"Mancini Pasta is a fantastic example of how the funding can help increase sales and create local jobs.

"This program has been so sucessful that the Cook Government has increased the funding to $800,000 for Round 5 of the Agrifood and Beverage Voucher program.

"I encourage all eligible businesses to see how the Agrifood and Beverage Voucher program can help take them to the next level and optimise their potential."

Comments attributed to Cannington MLA Bill Johnston:

"It's great to see family businesses thriving not only in my electorate, but across WA.

"We've had incredibly positive feedback from previous voucher recipients like Mancini Pasta in Beckenham, who've used the funding to increase production and turnover, pursue additional capital investment to grow their businesses, as well as hire new employees.

"A more efficent business operation can also result in more afforable products on supermarket shelves."