Thomastown chocolate and honeycomb producer The Confectionery House is creating jobs and expanding its production of sweets thanks to the Victorian Government’s Local Industry Fund for Transition (LIFT) grant.
The chocolate manufacturer is using the grant to expand its product range and boost exports from $160,000 to a projected $1 million by 2020. The grant will also see six new jobs created that are suitable for ex-auto workers.
LIFT helps businesses generate new investment and create jobs for retrenched workers in areas affected by the closure of car manufacturing, including Melbourne’s north.
Victoria’s manufacturing industry contributes $27.7 billion to the economy, is made up of more than 13,000 businesses and employs more than 286,000 people – an increase of more than 20,000 over the last two years.
Manufacturing is Victoria’s fourth largest employer and is responsible for $17.9 billion worth of goods exports.