Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls today congratulated local recipients of the inaugural South West Regional Grants Scheme during a tour of the Manjimup and Pemberton areas.

He said young musicians in the Manjimup area would have a state-of-the-art studio in which to hone their skills, thanks to help from the State Government.

The Boiler Room rehearsal and studio facility in Manjimup was one of 66 projects to receive funding through the South West Regional Grants Scheme.

The grants scheme is an initiative of Royalties for Regions and was designed to support projects that help attract investment, increase jobs or improve the quality of life in regional Western Australia.

“There are some fantastic projects in the Manjimup area and it will be exciting to see them develop in the future,” Mr Grylls said.

“The Boiler Room, for instance, received $63,484 to improve an existing rehearsal space and expand it into a recording studio.

“This project will maximise opportunities for young people by giving them the opportunity to pursue careers in music, sound engineering and event production.

“It will create a centrally located facility for musicians and production workers to further their skills and record music for demonstration to the industry and release to the public.”

Other local projects to benefit from the South West Regional Grants Scheme include:

• Manjimup Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc - $38,735 towards stage infrastructure for the Manjimup Cherry Harmony Festival
• Manjimup Family Centre Inc - $63,484 towards The Boiler Room
• Shire of Manjimup - $50,000 towards Northcliffe Sewerage and Wastewater Reuse Feasibility Study
• West Pemberton Avocados - $48,964 towards electricity upgrade
• Northcliffe Workers’ Club Inc - $15,000 towards water supply
• Pemberton Visitor Centre Inc - $20,790 towards upgrading the Pemberton Community Tennis Courts
• Warren Blackwood Strategic Alliance Inc - $19,500 towards Warren Blackwood Recreational Trails Project
• Quinninup Community Association Inc - $31,048 towards Quinninup Facility Enrichment
• St John Ambulance Australia WA Inc (Walpole-Nornalup Sub Centre) - $12,224 towards improvements to the Walpole sub-centre
• Walpole Community Resource Telecentre Inc - $72,500 towards building extensions.