Discover which projects we selected
Launched in 2021, and now in its third year, the Hills & Coast Business Grant was again intended to support manufacturing businesses in the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu, and Kangaroo Island regions, by offering up to $10,000 in matched funding to help address barriers to business growth and productivity.
We’re delighted to announce the recipients of the 2023 Hills and Coast Business Grant, marking another milestone in RDA AHFKI’s commitment to strengthening the manufacturing industry.
This round attracted a total of 17 applications. The total ask was more than $137,000, with a total project value exceeding $570,000, demonstrating a strong interest in support for progressing manufacturing in our region.
The Hills and Coast Business Grant is a key initiative under our Strategic Regional Plan priority of “Strengthening Our Most Competitive Sectors” which aims, in part, to bolster the region’s manufacturing industry and drive economic growth.
“Our focus on the manufacturing sector is very deliberate. It is one of three industries prioritised by RDA for its level of specialisation, competitiveness, and its contribution to exports. It is a growing sector, particularly in food and beverage, however at small scales the sector usually misses out on government supports.
The RDA Hills & Coast Business Grant is designed to assist our manufacturers that have ambitions for growth and have an eligible project that that will increase productivity.”
Steve Shotton, Director of Regional Development, RDA AHFKI
Over the 3 years we have offered this grant, a total 21 businesses have been funded and gone on to invest an impressive, combined total of $667,000 into the manufacturing sector.
After a rigorous evaluation process, the grant recipients for this year’s funding round have been selected. Innovative and ambitious, these local businesses showcase the region’s entrepreneurial spirit and represent a diverse range of industries. The successful recipients of the Hills and Coast Business Grant 2023 are:
Ginny Pig Distillery, specialists in crafting small-batch gin, and recent winners of the 2023 World Spirits Awards for “Best London Dry” and “Best overall Gin”. With plans to expand into other spirits, they successfully secured funding for a larger still to double production capacity while enhancing energy efficiency.
Big Sissy Foods & Matchett Productions, who have made a name for themselves by creating exceptional food products. Their successful funding application will allow them to replace manual production with a state-of-the-art dough divider and rounder, to automate their processes and increase speed, efficiency, and output.
Fischer Kitchens, a family business in the Adelaide Hills, who specialise in the design, manufacture, and installation of custom kitchens and residential joinery. With their funding request approved, they will acquire equipment to revolutionise their workflow and eliminate production bottlenecks to create a faster, more seamless experience for their customers.
Woodside Cheese Wrights, an award-winning, Adelaide Hills providore known for their world-class premium cheese. Thanks to the grant, they will be able to automate their jar packaging process and introduce an exciting new product range. This will reduce bottlenecks, improve worker safety, and allow them to expand sales home and abroad.
Congratulations to all our successful recipients!
The impact of the grant is set to reverberate throughout the region, driving innovation, enhancing productivity, and creating more opportunities for growth in the local manufacturing sector.