Project snapshot
Alignment with RDA strategy
- Economic development
Alignment with RDA strategy
- Economic development
Supporting local manufacturing
The Hills & Coast Business Grant returned in 2024 to support manufacturing businesses across the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu and Kangaroo Island.
The program continues to provide matched funding to help regional manufacturers invest in equipment to overcome operational challenges and build capacity for future growth.
Corporate partners help grant expansion
This year, thanks to the generous support of corporate partners, the Fleurieu Milk Company and Thomas Foods International, we were able to double available grant funding for eligible projects from $10,000 to $20,000, also increasing the total funding pool from $40,000 to more than $94,000.
In this round of the Hills & Coast Business Grant, we received 28 applications with a total project value of almost $1.3m. Following a meticulous evaluation process, 7 local businesses were awarded funding for projects with a total value exceeding $200,000.
Each of these local manufacturers demonstrated a capacity to boost efficiency, reduce manual handling risks, streamline workflows, and strengthen their competitive position.
2024 Hills & Coast Business Grant Recipients
Grants were awarded to the following forward-thinking local businesses, each working to solve real operational challenges and position themselves for sustainable growth.
These businesses showcase the practical innovation happening across our region’s manufacturing sector, and what’s possible when small-scale producers get the right support at the right time.
Read the case studies to see how two of our recipients put the Hills & Coast Business Grant to work in their businesses.
Tuckaway Engineering
Find out how manufacturers of the Tuckaway™ Staple system used throughout Australian vineyards used their grant to achieve game-changing improvements in speed, consistency and staff morale.
Kauppila Pty Ltd
This Kingscote-based modular building specialist used their grant to transform operations by freeing up staff for other work, while also dramatically boosting safety, flexibility and deployment speed across remote sites.
Additional 2024 Hills & Coast Business Grant recipients
Emu Ridge Eucalyptus
Grant funding helped Emu Ridge Eucalyptus upgrade production equipment including wax melters, liquid filling equipment, and a cardboard perforator to eliminate plastic bubble wrap use, reducing batch production times.
Peninsula Providore
Producers of boutique extra virgin olive oil, Peninsula Providore was able to increase production, reduce labour costs and support circular economy goals with larger tanks and a new plate and frame filter.
The Garden Farmers
These manufacturers of cold-pressed juice purchased new equipment to reduce production time and improve extraction efficiency to enable sustainable growth and new product lines.
Wrapping Hood
Investment in a power generator, professional heat press, and production equipment helped this visual communications and signage business overcome power limitations to boost productivity and expand services.
Inavogue
This Adelaide Hills cabinetry business used their funding to install a new dust collector, allowing three primary machines to run concurrently, increasing productive capacity to handle additional projects each month.
Looking for funding for your business?
With the support of our local councils, we’ve developed the Hills & Coast Grant Finder website to make finding funding easier. This portal brings together opportunities from councils, state and federal governments in the one place, so you don’t need to trawl through multiple websites.
Register once, set up alerts for your industry, and receive notification when relevant grants become available.