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BRITISH COLUMBIA – The BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund has been a catalyst for creating good jobs and growing local economies across BC by bolstering the province’s manufacturing sectors, according to Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation.
“We’ll keep working alongside industry to support clean, modernized manufacturing in every corner of the province, while creating the quality, sustainable jobs people need to build good lives,” said Bailey.
The $180-million BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund (BCMJF) supports for-profit organizations to plan and launch shovel-ready, high-value industrial and manufacturing projects that bring direct benefits and stable, family-supporting jobs to communities, while driving clean and inclusive growth throughout the province.
The BCMJF has seen strong uptake across the forestry sector, announcing more than $22 million to forestry-related projects so far to grow BC’s value-added wood manufacturing sector. In addition, the BCMJF is helping forestry sector operators modernize and adopt technologies that will reduce dependence on old-growth trees and create new opportunities for fibre supply.
The BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund is also supporting other manufacturing sectors such as food and beverage, transportation equipment and fabricated-metal product manufacturing sectors, as they invest in advanced technology that helps ensure workers gain the opportunities and skills needed to sustain and grow the manufacturing sector in BC, while also improving productivity to meet market demands.
The BCMJF funding will help create more than 450 jobs, while also maintaining and protecting more than 780 existing manufacturing jobs throughout BC. As much as $36 million has been committed to 25 capital projects and 13 planning projects for manufacturers looking to expand and fortify their operations through the introduction of new product lines, upgrading outdated equipment and building new facilities. These funded projects represent more than $300 million in capital investment being made in the manufacturing sector in BC.
“We’re already seeing the impact of the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund in supporting growth in the value-added wood products sector in BC,” said Brian Hawrysh, CEO, BC Wood. “Fostering innovation and strengthening our small and medium-sized local manufacturers helps ensure long-term jobs and a sustainable future for the forestry sector and the communities it supports throughout our province.”
Funding through the BCMJF is part of a series of programs that the Province has introduced to support the growth of value-added manufacturing in BC’s forestry sector. In January 2023, the Ministry of Forests introduced a new Value-Added Manufacturing Program to establish a dedicated fibre supply for small and medium-sized manufacturers. The Province is working with the value-added manufacturing sector to increase the flow of fibre and find ways to expand local production of high-value wood products. A strong value-added manufacturing industry diversifies the forestry sector by creating new jobs, protecting existing jobs and buffering against global market challenges.
The BCMJF is accepting funding proposals for investments that drive clean and inclusive growth in the manufacturing sectors, particularly those in the value-added forestry sector.
Below are project descriptions for the four latest BCMJF projects located in Coquitlam, Revelstoke, Kelowna and Topley, along with a full list of previously funded BCMJF projects and projected job numbers;
The Government of British Columbia is contributing as much as $786,020 through the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund to support two capital and two planning projects to help manufacturers grow by purchasing new equipment, adding product lines and supporting local economies by creating new jobs.
The four manufacturers receiving funds from the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund are as follows:
- Kelowna: Vitalis Extraction Technology Inc., an original equipment manufacturer of CO2-based technologies, will receive as much as $25,000 to complete planning activities for a potential future capital project. The project will help the company upgrade its facility and purchase new speciality equipment to scale up and manufacture a new product line of commercial and industrial natural-refrigerant heat pumps with optional CO2 capture and storage.
- Topley: Silverstone Exploration Inc., an industrial mining company that manufactures custom architectural products, will receive as much as $24,750 to complete planning activities for a future capital project and equipment purchase, with the aim of expanding its new product line to the U.S. market.
- Coquitlam: Novo Textile Company will receive as much as $584,000 to acquire and install highly specialized, automated equipment to develop an N95 mask production department. During the pandemic, Novo switched from making bedding products to producing medical-grade masks and other single-use health-care products. This capital project will create 13 new jobs, help the company diversify its product offerings and grow into export markets.
- Revelstoke: Big Eddy Machine Shop, a machine-part manufacturer for industries such as forestry repair and rail maintenance, will receive as much as $152,270 toward acquiring a milling machine. The machine will increase efficiency, add a new product line, create one new job and foster a more inclusive and accessible operating environment.
“Vitalis is grateful for the support from the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund. This will allow us to expand our market research for our new product line of R744 heating and cooling solutions. This will guide us in identifying opportunities to scale up production, leading to the creation of manufacturing jobs in the Okanagan region,” said Kayla Duval, executive project manager of Vitalis Extraction Technology Inc.
Previously announced BCMJF capital projects:
- Williams Lake: Massive Canada Inc., receiving as much as $10,000,000 and creating 71 jobs;
- Mill Bay: Kinsol Timber Systems, receiving as much as $500,000 and creating nine jobs;
- Cobble Hill: Nexus Global Building Solutions, receiving as much as $200,000 and creating 12 jobs;
- Armstrong: Woodtone Specialties Inc, receiving as much as $1,340,000, creating 50 jobs;
- Creston: J.H. Huscroft, receiving as much as $400,000 and protecting 71 jobs;
- Terrace: Monster Industries Ltd., receiving as much as $466,000, creating seven jobs and protecting 77 more;
- Mackenzie: Conifex Mackenzie Forest Products Inc., receiving as much as $105,000 and maintaining 159 jobs;
- 150 Mile House: OT Timber Frames Ltd., receiving as much as $235,000, creating five jobs and protecting 20 more;
- Vanderhoof: Bid Group Technologies Ltd., receiving as much as $100,000;
- 100 Mile House: New Wave Docks Ltd., receiving as much as $300,000 and creating seven jobs;
- Surrey: Punjab Milk Foods Inc., receiving as much as $7,500,000 and creating 50 jobs;
- Abbotsford: Dynamic Windows and Doors, receiving as much as $755,000 and creating nine jobs;
- Aldergrove: Western Wood Preservers Ltd., receiving as much as $300,000, creating seven jobs and protecting nine more;
- Abbotsford: Tiger Tool International Inc., receiving as much as $220,000 and creating three jobs;
- Langley: S&R Sawmills, receiving as much as $4,000,000, creating 25 jobs and protecting 100 more;
- Canoe: Canoe Forest Products Ltd., receiving as much as $2,250,000 and protecting 205 jobs;
- Louis Creek: Paradigm Building Solutions, receiving as much as $106,000 and creating five jobs;
- Surrey: Dr. Ma’s Laboratories, receiving as much as $1,250,000, creating 75 jobs and protecting 52 more;
- Pitt Meadows: When We Eat Manufacturing, receiving as much as $623,000, creating 50 jobs and protecting 30 more;
- Wynndel: Pippin Point, receiving as much as $176,610 and creating four jobs;
- Nanaimo: VMAC Global Technology Inc., receiving as much as $3,400,000 and creating 45 jobs;
- Port Alberni: Franklin Forest Products Ltd., receiving as much as $425,000, creating five jobs and protecting 37 more; and
- Chemainus: Bioflame Briquettes, receiving as much as $117,320 and creating four jobs.
Previously announced BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund planning projects:
- Gold River: Gold River Aquafarms, receiving as much as $50,000;
- Merritt: Stuwix Resources Ltd., receiving as much as $50,000;
- Mount Currie: Lil’Wat Forestry Ventures Inc., receiving as much as $30,000;
- Anahim Lake: West Chilcotin Forest Products Ltd., receiving as much as $11,950;
- Trail: Advanced Biocarbon 3D Ltd., receiving as much as $40,000;
- Trail: KC Recycling, receiving as much as $50,000;
- Agassiz: Power Wood Corp., receiving as much as $50,000;
- Vancouver: Bcollective Homes Inc., receiving as much as $50,000;
- Kamloops: Kruger Kamloops L.P., receiving as much as $50,000;
- Kamloops: Thompson River Veneer Products, receiving as much as $30,000; and
- Coquitlam: Soul Bite Food Inc., receiving as much as $22,000.
Source: news.gov.bc.ca
