Seven Townsville businesses will share in more than $134,000 under the first round of the State Government’s $1.5 million Defence and Aerospace Industry Development Fund.

The fund was created to help small-to-medium companies develop their capabilities and compete for national and international defence and aerospace industry contracts.

“This is about helping local companies tap into multi-billion-dollar industries to create jobs in Townsville,” Member for Townsville Scott Stewart said

“Each business has received up to $30,000 in matched funding so they can get the international certifications they need to tender for defence and aerospace contracts.

The successful Townsville businesses are Brazier Motti, Global Welding Supplies, NEM Group, Peak ARE, Taylor Builders, TEI Services and Townsville Services Group.

The Townsville businesses were among 18 across Queensland that share in more than $250,000 under Round 1 of Defence and Aerospace Industry Development Fund grants.

Other regional recipients include Eveready Group of Companies (Mackay), Fleet Industries (Yeppoon), Joe Wagner Group (Toowoomba), Upton Engineering and Manufacturing (Gladstone), and VE Group (Moura).

Peak ARE director Brad Swaffer said their air conditioning, refrigeration and electrical company had much to gain in becoming part of the defence supply chain.

“Accessing projects in this sector gives companies like ours an opportunity to grow, provide security for our workforce and strengthen our capabilities with long-term partners,” he said.

“The Townsville Defence Industry Hub has been supporting us through our journey to become part of the defence supply chain and linked us to upcoming regional defence opportunities. This funding will help us meet the requirements to participate in these projects. “

State Development Minister Kate Jones said Queensland’s defence and aircraft manufacturing and repair industries were major employers throughout the state, generating around $7.5 billion in revenue per year.

“Our state is home to 14 significant defence bases with more than 23,000 uniformed and civilian workers, many of whom are based in Townsville,” she said.

“Townsville hosts all three branches of the Australian Defence Force and their defence community is nearly 10 per cent of the city’s population.

“It makes sense to boost our defence manufacturing and aerospace industries. We’ve got a strategy in place to help local companies scale up in this sector and start exporting globally.”