GOLDEN North has been awarded a $200,000 grant from the state government’s Upper Spencer Gulf and Outback Futures Program to upgrade their ice cream production line at Laura in the Mid North, with an anticipated doubling of impulse production output.
The $595,000 project will provide a dedicated production line for ‘impulse’ products (including Golden North Giant Twins, swings, cups and tubes) and will allow the wholly SA-owned and operated manufacturing business to introduce new products to their range.
The new equipment will improve the company’s production through greater processing capacity, and new freezing and packaging equipment.
Golden North general manager Peter Adamo said the increased production and the development of new products would play an important role in the company’s expansion into interstate and export markets
“This upgrade continues to build the capacity of our manufacturing facility, which will result in more than doubling our current impulse production capacity,” he said.
The $2 million Upper Spencer Gulf and Outback Futures Program is a once-off grants program, opened in November 2015 in recognition of the challenges brought about by the downturn of the resources sector and the impending closure of the Port Augusta power station and Leigh Creek coal mine.
Grants have been made available from $50,000 up to $200,000 in 2015-16 for small projects in the eligible area.
The program supports the delivery of small projects that will contribute to economic diversification, resilience and capacity building of Upper Spencer Gulf and Outback communities, creating sustainable economic benefits to the region and the State.
Regional Development Minister Geoff Brock said the impulse production line upgrade would result in the creation of three new ongoing jobs for the area.
