Australia: funding to support footwear and textile industries
Australian businesses in the textile, apparel and footwear industries can partner dollar for dollar with the Gillard Government and apply for a grant of $250,000 or more to help build a stronger and more resilient sector.
Announcing the opening of Round 3 of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Strategic Capability Program funding round, the Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation, Kate Lundy, urged manufacturers to innovate to keep a competitive edge.
“The Strategic Capability Program is designed to support textile, clothing and footwear manufacturers who have a vision for their industry based on smart ideas, strategic thinking, and technical excellence,” Senator Lundy said. “Despite the challenges facing the sector, efficiency, clever design and vision will pay-off in the long term.”
Under the TCF Strategic Capability Program, the Gillard Government has invested more than $32 million in the manufacturing industry and supported 16 businesses to progress ambitious projects.
Some of the projects that have been funded under the program include the development of a 'smart' garment for soldiers that provides information on their identity, location, stress levels, and exposure to chemical and biological agents, and the creation of a national recycling capability to turn recycled textile waste into useful products.
“The Gillard Government’s investment in textile, clothing and footwear ingenuity demonstrates our commitment to the industry and their workers,” Senator Lundy said. “This investment underpins our belief that the sector can adapt to the times and is a valuable part of a diverse economy.”
