RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS BC RECEIVED AS MUCH AS $33M FROM PROVINCE

May 16, 2024
Central/North Vancouver Island | Northern BC | Peace Cariboo Skeena

Grosso Precast Ltd. of Williams Lake manufactures civil precast concrete products.

BRITISH COLUMBIA – Local governments, First Nations, not-for-profit organizations and manufacturing businesses in northern B.C. are receiving funding from the the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP).

The Government of B.C is contributing as much as $33 million across rural areas of the province for the second intake. and communities in northern B.C. will receive as much as $13.3 million in REDIP funding for 42 approved projects (listed here) to help strengthen local economies.

Kwadacha Nation approved project is receiving $1 million for expansion of its store that will include a loading dock and a cold-storage warehouse, along with a revitalization of its community restaurant, which closed because of COVID-19 and did not reopen. Using the new loading dock and cold-storage space, the Nation will be able to store the produce sourced from community greenhouses and transported to the community to ensure it is kept fresh for as long as possible and used in various meals served at the reopened restaurant.

There is additional funding for as much as $33 million available in the upcoming third intake of REDIP, with applications expected to open in July 2024 and remain open until the end of October 2024.

Additionally, through the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund (BCMJF), the Government of B.C. is contributing as much as $1.2 million toward four projects in northern B.C.

  • Houston – DH Manufacturing Inc. is a secondary wood-product manufacturer specializing in finger joint lumber, dunnage, strips and lathe products. It is receiving as much as $480,000 to support the installation of a new finger jointer that will increase productivity and support the creation of higher-value products from residuals and lower-grade fibre, while protecting 40 existing positions.
  • 94 Mile House – Tsi Del Del Development Corporation, 100% owned and operated by the Tŝideldel First Nation, is receiving as much as $422,000 to purchase equipment for the creation of a sort yard for biomass aimed at centralizing the processing of waste wood that would otherwise be burned, manufacture higher-value products and create as many as 16 jobs.
  • Prince George – Prolenc Manufacturing Inc. is a metal-manufacturing business specializing in machine brake links and drill heads for the logging and mining industries. It is receiving as much as $254,000 to purchase and install new machinery that will enhance its manufacturing capabilities and increase efficiency to meet current demand, while creating two new jobs and upskilling 12 existing positions.
  • Williams Lake – Grosso Precast Ltd. manufactures civil precast concrete products. It is receiving as much as $50,000 to conduct project planning for a capital project that aims to double its production, improve efficiency and add new high-value products.

More than three-quarters of the BCMJF projects located in rural B.C.

“Thanks to the support of the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, we’ve transformed our infrastructure to not only produce more economically viable products but also to minimize waste from our biomass operations. This initiative is crucial in our efforts to cultivate opportunities within forests devastated by catastrophic wildfires,” said Kevin Hodgins, president of Prolenc Manufacturing Inc.

Dustin Hotte, vice-president, DH Manufacturing Inc. said the funding enabled them to complete the expansion of their new building and automated finger joint. The new equipment increases productivity, grade and recovery, and is reducing the physical demand on employees.

Some of the projects on Vancouver Island are:

Tseshaht First Nation – $1,000,000 for for Somass Business Park – Infrastructure Design;

Malahat Nation – $99,300 for Workforce Housing Planning at the Malahat Business Park;

Canadian Amateur Rowing Association (doing business as Rowing Canada Aviron) – $500,000 for a National Training Centre (NTC) and Home for Canadian Rowing in the Cowichan Valley – Phase Three Constructing a Shell House;

Heiltsuk Tribal Council (Heiltsuk Indian Band) – $998,000 for Heiltsuk Shearwater Resort’s Commercial Enterprise Water System Upgrade

For all 2023-24 funded projects – see below:

Business Examiner Staff

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