Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan visited Ryan’s Meats on Friday to announce $3.1 million in grants to support and encourage capital investment across WA.
The Value Add Agribusiness Investment Attraction Fund initiative awarded 23 grants and is expected to create 128 jobs.
Bunbury’s Ryan’s Meats was awarded $300,000 to expand its Davenport facility to Tier One Export accreditation, and its value added food service product.
Owner Greg Ryan said it meant they could continue to invest in Bunbury and grow staff numbers.
“Domestically we’re doing very well but to take it to the next level we need that export market to kick in and this has given us a massive opportunity,” he said.
“It sets the ball rolling to keep this family business going.”
Dardanup Butchering Company was given $75,000 for viability modelling of dedicated meat processing and value added products.
Ms MacTiernan said the grants would mean businesses could grow and compete for opportunities on interstate and international markets.
“Capturing more value from our primary industries is absolutely critical to our government’s plan to drive job growth,” she said.