Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program (Round 4)

Funding program archive

This page preserves a dated funding-program record and links it to current project-planning guidance.

Publication date: 10 September 2024.

Status note: This archive does not confirm that applications are open, funds remain available or the earlier eligibility and co-funding settings still apply. Verify the current administrator page and guidelines.

What this article reported

The $33.5 million Manufacturing Hub Grant Program (MHGP) offers grants to support eligible businesses in the Cairns, Central Queensland, Gold Coast, Mackay, and Townsville SA4 regions.

Grants ranging from $10,000 to $500,000 are available for eligible small to medium manufacturing enterprises in these regions. Round 4 is open until 30 June 2025, or until all funding is fully allocated.
This program provides a significant opportunity for manufacturers to boost productivity, enhance advanced manufacturing capabilities, and create future jobs.

The MHGP supports regional manufacturing SMEs to:
- Increase productivity by improving international competitiveness, creating jobs, and attracting private sector investment
- Adopt cutting-edge technologies in equipment, robotics, systems, software, data use, and analytics
- Improve energy efficiency and sustainability, including better energy and carbon management
- Develop high-performing workplaces through enhanced management, leadership, and skills development, including advanced manufacturing apprenticeships and traineeships

Who is this for?

This initiative is for SME (5-200 full-time employees) QLD businesses in the manufacturing sector.

Available Funding:

Applicants may request a grant between $10,000 and $500,000 (excluding GST). The grant amount must be no more than 50 per cent of the total Eligible Activity Costs.

Activities:

Grants will be available to successful applicants to support the development of their advanced manufacturing capabilities through the following Eligible Activities:

Eligibility:

You can apply if you:

Interested?

Reach out to us today.

How to use this information now

Before relying on a grant, confirm the current round, applicant and project eligibility, eligible expenditure, co-contribution, assessment process, closing date and evidence obligations. Build the technical case so the project remains understandable with grant support shown separately.

Separate source-reported facts from forecasts, targets and commentary. For a current project, retain the official source, version, effective date, assumptions and decision record in the evidence file.

What is the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program (Round 4)?

The Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program (MHGP) is a $33.5 million grant program offering grants to eligible businesses in five Queensland SA4 regions: Cairns, Central Queensland, Gold Coast, Mackay, and Townsville. Grants range from $10,000 to $500,000 (excluding GST) and must not exceed 50 per cent of total eligible activity costs. The program supports technology adoption, skills development, business improvement, and ARM Hub services to build advanced manufacturing capabilities in regional areas.

When do applications open and close for Round 4 of the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program?

Applications open on 10 September 2024 and close on 30 June 2025 at 5:00 pm AEST, or when all funding has been allocated, whichever comes first. Applicants should prepare documentation early, as the closing date represents a fixed deadline and funding may be exhausted before that date depending on application volume and grant sizes requested.

Who is eligible to apply for the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program Round 4?

Eligible applicants must be registered for GST with an active Australian Business Number (ABN); be a small-to-medium enterprise (SME) employing 5–200 full-time equivalent employees with manufacturing as the principal activity and majority revenue source; have main operations and project site in one of the five eligible Queensland SA4 regions; and have operated within Queensland for a minimum of three consecutive years before application. These eligibility requirements establish a defined target group of regional manufacturers meeting specific employment and operational criteria.

How does grant funding relate to eligible activity costs, and what does this mean for project budgeting?

The grant amount must not exceed 50 per cent of total eligible activity costs, meaning applicants must contribute at least matching funding from their own resources or other sources. This requirement ensures the business has genuine financial commitment to the project. When preparing an investment case, applicants should establish the complete eligible activity cost basis, then structure the grant application for up to half of that total. The remaining cost must be funded through internal capital, other grants, or finance arrangements.

What types of activities can the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program support?

Eligible activities include technology adoption (equipment, robotics, systems, software, data use, and analytics); skills and training development including advanced manufacturing apprenticeships and traineeships; business development services; and ARM Hub services. These activities are designed to improve international competitiveness, increase productivity, create jobs, attract investment, enhance energy efficiency and sustainability, and develop high-performing workplaces through better management and leadership capabilities.

How does energy efficiency and sustainability feature in the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program?

The program explicitly supports improvements to energy efficiency and sustainability, including better energy and carbon management. Eligible activities in this category align with our energy audit and optimization services, measurement and verification capabilities, and carbon advisory support. Manufacturers can use grant funding to conduct energy assessments, implement efficiency upgrades, establish energy management systems, and transition toward lower-carbon operations—all areas where we provide assessment, implementation, and performance-tracking expertise.

How should a manufacturing business prepare an application to maximize the chance of grant approval?

Businesses should establish a clear project brief identifying the business problem, operational requirements, proposed activities, and expected outcomes aligned with program goals. Develop a robust investment case showing eligible activity costs and how grant funding (up to 50 per cent) will be deployed. Document eligibility criteria: GST registration, ABN, employee count, manufacturing focus, regional location, and three-year Queensland operation. For energy or technology projects, engage professional assessment early to build credible cost and benefit estimates. Maintain a funding status register tracking application progress and outstanding conditions.

What assistance can Northmore Gordon provide for manufacturing businesses applying for the Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program?

We offer energy audits, optimization assessments, measurement and verification services, and carbon advisory support applicable to grant-funded projects. We can conduct energy investigations to identify efficiency opportunities and prepare investment cases with verified cost and benefit estimates. For projects involving technology adoption, skills development, or sustainability improvements, we provide scoping, feasibility assessment, and project documentation. The organization also offers funding-pathway assessment to evaluate grant eligibility, timeline alignment, and commercial terms before application.

What documentation should be prepared before submitting a Manufacturing Hubs Grant Program application?

Applicants should prepare: company registration and ABN verification; three years of operational history in Queensland; employee count documentation; a project brief describing the business problem, decision required, and operational context; detailed eligible activity costs and funding structure; evidence of matching contribution sources; for technology or energy projects, relevant quotes, technical specifications, and assessment findings; and an investment case showing expected outcomes and benefits. Having this documentation ready before the application window ensures timely submission and reduces the risk of missing the 30 June 2025 deadline.

Images on This Page