Printing companies planning to upgrade their business may be eligible for government funding if they can demonstrate that the upgrade will improve their energy efficiency.
This advice comes from Printing Industries which says that the Federal Government has allocated some $800 million to the Clean Technology Investment Program, a key part of its Clean Energy Future plan, which is now accepting funding grant submissions from businesses.
The program is designed to support Australian manufacturers adjust to a lower carbon economic environment by providing grants to finance investments in energy-efficient capital equipment and low-emitting technologies and processes.
Printing Industries' National Manager, Policy and Government Affairs, Hagop Tchamkertenian, said that businesses proposing to make an investment were not bound to focus only on new technology or processes.
“Modifications to existing plant, equipment and processes also qualify for funding,” he said.
“The program threshold can be met from energy/fuel used at a single site or across a company’s manufacturing activities in Australia.”
To be eligible a company must:
Use 300,000 kWh of electricity per annum (which equates to 25,000 kWh per month or 75,000 kWh per quarter).
Based on Printing Industries estimates this equates to:
Spending more than $70,000 per annum on electricity (which is about $5,833 per month or $17,499 per quarter).
Mr Tchamkertenian said that for businesses with turnover of up to $100 million per annum the grant amount ranges between $25,000 and $500,000 and the applicant needs to match the funding on a 1:1 basis.
“For business with turnover greater than $100 million grants still range between $25,000 and $500,000 but the applicant to grant funding ratio becomes 2:1.
“For grant amounts ranging from $500,000 to $10 million the applicant to grant funding ratio remains at 2:1; and for grants of $10 million or more the ratio rises to 3:1,” he said.
The program will provide grant funding on a competitive, merit-basis until 2017-18.
Printing Industries members considering an application should contact Mr Tchamkertenian on (02) 8789 7361 E-mail: hagop@printnet.com.au
Printing Industries Association of Australia
www.printnet.com.au
