Enterprising small businesses in the textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) sector can now apply for a series of government grants, totalling $2.5 million.
The Australian Government grants, of up to $50,000 for each business, are now open for applications as part of the latest funding round of the TCF Small Business Program (SBP).
The Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation, senator Kate Lundy, and the Minister for Small Business, Brendan O’Connor, are encouraging established small businesses to enter in a bid to help buoy the TCF sector.
“The Australian Government is committed to ensuring Australia retains a strong manufacturing industry and improves productivity and competitiveness in the textile, clothing and footwear sector,” Lundy said.
"The Gillard Government's investment in textile, clothing and footwear ingenuity demonstrates our commitment to the industry and their workers.”
The TCF SBP Round Eight grants aim to give high calibre small businesses that manufacture textile, clothing or footwear in Australia the opportunity to boost their competitiveness.
However, Australian designers may also apply for grants if they manufacture in Australia.
Since the TCF SBP grants have been introduced, they have benefited 470 businesses, including Tasmania’s Besmitten Pty Ltd (trading as Smitten Merino).
The company, founded by Carl and Nicole Mason, has been awarded two TCF Small Business grants to assist the business to remain competitive.
While the first grant of $45,000 assisted the company to prepare a strategic plan to change the business direction including e-commerce functionality, the second grant of $29,000 focused on unifying its production and design functions.
Carl Mason said adopting e-commerce has also been a major success for the company, with progress aided by the grants.
According to Mason, online sales have increased by 400 per cent in the first six months and the CAD system has helped the company significantly improve productivity and reduce wastage.
“Last year our online sales for November were $2,000, this year for the same month they were $12,000,” he said.
“The grants from AusIndustry were a major factor in being able to achieve this success.”
Applications for Round 8 of the TCF SBP grants close on March 1 2013.
AusIndustry will run workshops nationally to assist businesses applying for the program from 30 January to early February 2013. Businesses can register for these workshops on AusIndustry’s website.
Potential applicants should visit www.ausindustry.gov.au for more information, or call the AusIndustry hotline on 13 28 46 or email the hotline@ausindustry.gov.au.