Many Fabrication & Engineering Gunnedah set to expand with NSW Government Regional Job Creation Fund grant

Many Fabrication & Engineering, which is 100 per cent Indigenous owned, is the successful recipient of $500,000 from the Regional Job Creation Fund.

Director Glenn Many told the Leader the funding has enabled them relocate and expand their workshop in a boost for the local workforce.

"We've purchased land and we're relocating to Allgayer Drive in Gunnedah," he said.

"Early next year we are going to start construction.

"We currently employ about 40 people, a different range from apprentices to fabrication trade, machine and tradesmen.

"$500,000 is a lot of money and we appreciate that, it will help us accelerate our business into the future, and set up a purpose built facility within the local area."

Mr Many said the money will be spent locally, through the purchase of local building materials and trades.

"It's a big thing for the town," he said.

"All the money we get through the grant will be spent through the local community, buying all the products that we need for the building, also the services that we require - we'll be using local people within the Gunnedah area," he said.

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A member of the Red Chief Local Aboriginal Land Council in Gunnedah, Mr Many is passionate about employing Indigenous people and local youth.

"We know the future is young people, that's why we're willing to train these people to become tradesmen," he said.

Mr Many was recently named Outstanding Young Business Leader for the New England North West region in the 2021 Business NSW awards.

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said the funding would allow Many Fabrications to meet current and future demand with the introduction of two overhead cranes and new specialised workshop bays.

"This will mean that work that is usually sent elsewhere will be done right here in Gunnedah, he said.

The $130 million Regional Job Creation Fund aims to create more than 6,500 new direct jobs in regional NSW by providing incentives to expand and keep operations in regional areas.

Round one of the Regional Job Creation Fund has now closed.

A second round will open in early 2022.

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