BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund – Province of British Columbia
6 min read
The BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund (BCMJF) is helping manufacturing companies modernize, innovate, and grow by providing funding for capital projects in all regions in B.C., particularly in communities affected by economic impacts or downturns.
The program welcomes applications from all manufacturing sectors. There is a particular focus on helping the forestry sector retrofit and develop new, sustainable value-added business lines that reduce dependency on old growth logging and make innovative use of biomaterials.
The program is nearing the end of its current intake period.
- New proposals (Step 1 of the two-step process) are due by August 15, 2024 at 4:00pm PST.
- If your project has been invited to submit a detailed application (Step 2), the deadline to submit is November 15, 2024 at 4:00pm PST.
On this page:
Program Overview
This program reflects the Province’s ongoing commitment to promote economic diversification and complements other supports for forestry workers and rural communities.
BCMJF will invest up to $180 million in manufacturing projects throughout B.C.
Program Goals:
- Invest in high-value, high-growth manufacturing sectors
- Contribute to clean, inclusive growth and economic resilience and diversification, particularly in regional and Indigenous communities
- Support innovation and sustainability in the forestry value-added sector
- Create and maintain long-term well-paying jobs
- Help companies leverage other funding sources and bring investment into B.C.
- Boost productivity, strengthen supply chains and drive competitiveness in domestic and international markets
The Program Guide provides additional information about the program and application process.
Eligibility
Applicant Eligibility
Eligible applicants include:
- Businesses
- For-profit organizations
- Entities with for-profit manufacturing operations, including First Nations and Indigenous- and First Nation-owned enterprises
First Nations and Indigenous-owned enterprises that are preparing to fully acquire or buy into an established manufacturing operation may be eligible to receive funding. Please contact us to discuss.
Applicant eligibility requirements
- Registered to do business in B.C.
- Operate in the manufacturing sector; i.e., create products using industrial or mass production processes
- Have established operations (at the proposed project location or elsewhere)
- Have an established employee base
- Be in a viable financial position, for example:
- Not in foreclosure or for sale
- A business plan and financial records that show current or projected growth, profits, and/or ability to pay off short-term debts
Project Eligibility
Eligible capital projects must:
- Be located in B.C.
- Contribute to long-term regional economic growth, sustainability and/or diversity
- Be financially viable and leverage market demand
- Create, maintain or diversify job opportunities for local workers
- Have a high degree of readiness and bring direct benefits to communities
- Demonstrate alignment with program goals
Eligible project costs are those essential to project delivery, including:
- Capital expenditures including equipment, machinery, technology, and construction materials
- Wage or contract costs for net new and project-specific labour
- Material transportation costs
- Installation and implementation costs
See the Program Guide for more information about eligible and ineligible costs.
Program Streams
BCMJF has two funding streams: Project Readiness and Capital Investment. The streams support different stages of planning and launching capital projects.
Stream 1 – Project Readiness
Funding to complete final-stage business and project planning, including operational and technical assessments.
Funding Amount
- Maximum: $50,000
- Up to 50% of total eligible project costs
Examples
- Develop a business case to expand operations or diversify product lines
- Conduct an operational or technical assessment to improve processes or introduce new technology
Early research, concept development and scoping are not eligible activities.
Stream 2 – Capital Investment
Funding to invest in new or renovated manufacturing infrastructure, technology, equipment, and processes, including renovating idle industrial buildings such as an unused mill site.
Funding Amount
- Minimum: $100,000
- Maximum: $10,000,000
- Total eligible project costs should be approximately $500,000 up to $100 million
- Up to 20% of total eligible project costs
Funding Details
- Projects should be initiated within one year
- Funding will be paid out in installments based on milestones achieved
- Applicants will be asked to submit project documentation that outlines the project budget, other potential and secured funding sources, and demonstrates project viability
Examples
- Build or expand a manufacturing facility
- Upgrade equipment or machinery to support new product lines
- Adopt innovative processes to manufacture value-added forestry products from biomass or other alternatives
- Retrofit a processing facility to expand or adopt new technology and processes
- Improve processes for fabrication
How To Apply
The program uses a two-step application process.
Deadlines to apply:
- Submit your new proposal (Step 1) by August 15, 2024 at 4:00pm PST
- If eligible and invited to move to Step 2, full applications are due by November 15, 2024 at 4:00pm PST
Before applying, we welcome you to reach out to our team at [email protected] to discuss your project, explore eligibility or seek guidance on the application process.
You can find additional details in the Program Guide.
Step 1: Project Proposal
The initial proposal process requests high-level information about your business and project.
To complete a proposal, you will need to log in with a Business BCeID.
- See the Program Guide for detailed instructions on how to get a Business BCeID if you don’t already have one.
- This may take a few business days to complete.
Submit an online proposal form for the stream you are applying for by August 15, 2024 at 4:00pm PST. The form will take approximately 30-60 minutes to complete. The online Project Proposal form is accessed by signing on with your Business BCeID using these links:
Stream 1 – Planning Proposal Form
Stream 2 – Capital Investment Proposal Form
We strongly recommend preparing your responses in a document offline before copying them into the form and submitting. Please also ensure you save the online form often (every 10-15 minutes).
You can save your progress and return to it at any time, or review the form structure prior to beginning the process to get an idea of what to expect. You will also be able to view your proposal after you have submitted it, and you can submit multiple proposals.
Program staff will review your proposal and contact you within four weeks about next steps. Please contact us if you require a PDF version of the proposal form, which you can use to prepare your answers offline and work collaboratively with others on your submission prior to submitting online.
Step 2: Detailed Application
Applicants who are selected to move on to Step 2 will receive a link to a detailed application form, where they will be asked to submit additional information and documentation such as business financials and project plans. Applications are due by November 15, 2024 at 4:00pm PST.
Applications will be assessed for alignment with program goals, economic impact, and project viability.
Step 3: Funding Decision
Throughout the assessment process, project applications that pass the assessment process and due diligence will be grouped together in batches and reviewed for funding decision.
Applications submitted with all required documentation by August 31, 2024 will receive funding decisions in late 2024, and applications submitted after August 31, 2024 will receive funding decisions in early 2025.
The following criteria will be used to prioritize projects for funding:
- Projects within the forestry sector
- Projects located in rural, remote or forestry-dependent communities
- Projects that have a high degree of readiness, need and direct impact
- Projects that are Indigenous-led or benefit Indigenous Peoples
Projects may be carried forward for future consideration if they are not funded at the time of initial review.
Frequently Asked Questions
A list of frequently asked questions about the program, application process and eligibility will be regularly updated on this page.
Funding Recipients
Applicants are approved on a rolling basis over the continuous program intake. The list of funding recipients will be updated regularly as new projects are approved.
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