Melbourne-based boutique chocolate manufacturer Koko Black will establish an Asia-Pacific headquarters in Melbourne’s north after receiving a $3 million grant from Melbourne’s North Innovation and Investment Fund (MNIIF).
The fund was established in response to the Ford closure, with money from the state and federal government as well as car manufacturer Ford, to support job creation, the Herald Sun reports.
Koko Black will use the money to develop the Alchemy Hall Project – a research and development hub to support product innovation.
Victorian premier Denis Napthine said the expansions would increase Koko Black production by 200 percent, adding that the government is proud to support businesses such as Koko Black that are creating employment opportunities in growing industries.
“Koko Black is one of the great success stories of retailing, one of the great success stories in terms of employment and economic growth in this state,” Napthine said.
“Koko Black is already working with Ford Australia to work with people who are currently working at Ford, to identify the skills and the opportunities those people may have in coming on-board with Koko Black,” he said.
The Victorian state government said more MNIIF grants would be announced soon.
The Great Southern Waters seafood plant in Geelong is also expanding, and is expected to create eight full time jobs by June 2016, and seven more by 2017-18.
The construction of the abalone processing plant will be subsidised by a $377,000 grant from the Geelong Region Innovation and Investment Fund, set up by the state and national government and Ford Australia.
Western Victoria MP David Koch said former local automotive factory workers would be well placed for the new jobs.