The company has been awarded $560,000 under the NSW government's Regional Job Creation Fund to help buy state-of-the-art equipment, including integrated dosing and filling and sealing lines that will help boost production in Leeton.

SunRice will use the grant to expand and upgrade its Leeton-based factory, enabling the company to onshore its manufacturing of microwavable rice cup product range, helping to reduce production costs and improve quality control.

The business will use advanced manufacturing to create long life, preservative free microwavable food products that do not require temperature-controlled distribution, making the products ideal for export.

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"Established in the Riverina in 1950, SunRice is one of the world's largest rice food companies and expanding the operations in Leeton will mean there will be more Australian-grown rice products for sale in more countries around the world," Duty MLC for Murray Wes Fang said.

The Regional Job Creation Fund supports eligible businesses with grants to purchase new equipment, expand facilities, acquire technology, create new production lines or establish businesses in regional NSW.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said fund aimed to create more than 6500 new direct jobs in regional NSW by providing incentives to expand and keep operations in regional areas.

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"Agriculture is the engine room of the state and, helping companies like SunRice expand its operations stimulates local and regional economies, boosts livelihoods and increases local employment opportunities," Mr Toole said.

"This fund allows businesses to fast track their growth plans, expand their operations and create a solid base for job creation now and into the future.

"Setting businesses up for success helps the local community grow and new jobs mean more people earning a wage and spending their pay packets in local stores, cafés, restaurants and on local goods and services."

Round one of the fund has now closed. A second round will open soon. For more information visit investregionalnsw.com/RJCFund.

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