Caption: Member for Parkes Mark Coulton with Furney’s Codirectors Sarah Furney (CEO) and Tim Furney (COO).

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton has today announced that Ben Furney Flour Mills in Dubbo will be the beneficiary of $1 million in funding to modernise their business.

Mr Coulton said the grant comes at a vital time, with some local industries feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Furney’s is an iconic family-owned and operated business in Dubbo, which sources its wheat locally within the Macquarie Valley.

“This $1 million grant from the Federal Government’s Manufacturing Modernisation Fund (MMF) will open up new opportunities for the business and create up to 11 new full-time jobs.

“It will also provide a great confidence-boost for the Dubbo region as we face these unprecedented times.

“The current pandemic gives us the opportunity as a nation to reassess and commit to the values of Australian-made goods, such as those produced by Furney’s right here in Dubbo.”

Sarah Furney, Furney’s CEO, said the grant will be a game-changer for the business.

“With the assistance of this grant, we will purchase and install a state-of-the-art automated processing line to manufacture Textured Vegetable Proteins (TVP), plant-based proteins and bread crumb products,” Ms Furney said.

“We will be able to produce a whole new range of products, increasing our capacity and allowing us to supply new markets both here in Australia and overseas, with a focus on the expanding plant-based proteins market.

“Our increased capacity resulting from this grant will help to secure the future of food production not just in Dubbo – but across Australia. We feel strongly about producing our own food products and using local ingredients and suppliers.

“This grant will help us to strengthen supply chains and reduce reliance on overseas imports. We thank our Federal Member and the Government for this important boost.”

Ms Furney said the 18-month project will commence in 2020.

The MMF builds on other Federal Government investments in manufacturing growth and competitiveness, including the $100 million Advanced Manufacturing Fund, the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre, the Entrepreneurs’ Programme, and the $40 million Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre.

For more information on the Manufacturing Modernisation Fund visit www.business.gov.au/MMF

Background

● The $1 million grant funding for Ben Furney Flour Mills has been awarded as part of a $7.4 million project.

● Ben Furney Flour Mills is the only manufacturer of TVP in Australia.

● The MMF aims to help small and medium sized manufacturers invest in capital equipment and new technologies to transform and upgrade their manufacturing operations.

● 200 projects worth more than $215 million are being supported through the Manufacturing Modernisation Fund (MMF). The Federal Government is contributing $48.3 million.

● The projects being funded are expected to create 2,600 Australian jobs.