Government of British Columbia: Rural Communities will be Boosted Through Value-Added Manufacturing

More sustainable jobs are being created and protected for people in B.C. through value-added manufacturing as the Province supports projects in northern B.C.

“By empowering innovative ideas and investing in companies that value a clean, sustainable future, we are setting the stage for local economies to flourish,” said Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. “The projects we’re supporting through the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund will create stability for workers and their families throughout the province by keeping good-paying jobs in the communities they call home.”

The Government of B.C. is investing more than $1.2 million in a variety of expansion projects to help manufacturing companies grow and create well-paying, sustainable jobs across northern B.C. as follows:

• Terrace – Monster Industries Ltd. will receive as much as $466,000 to build a new fabrication facility and purchase a new crane that will help manufacture drying kilns for the forestry industry in B.C., which are essential for the production of value-added wood products, and will create seven new skilled positions;
• 150 Mile House – OT Timber Frames Ltd. will receive as much as $235,000 to scale up the production of pre-fabricated homes and expand product offerings to include insulation components, with expansion of the production facility and addition of two CNC machines. The funds will help create five new positions and maintain year-round employment for current staff;
• 100 Mile House – New Wave Docks Ltd. will receive as much as $300,000 to double manufacturing capacity and provide space to diversify production. This entails the construction of a new 14,000-square-foot steel-engineered building to house a large-scale roto-oven and aluminum fabrication shop in the same facility, and will create as many as 15 new jobs;
• Mackenzie – Conifex Mackenzie Forest Products Inc. will receive as much as $105,000 to optimize production and increase product quality by purchasing new equipment, allowing the company to remain competitive during lumber market fluctuations; and
• Vanderhoof – Bid Group Technologies Ltd. will receive as much as $100,000 to expand manufacturing capacity to keep production in-house instead of outsourcing it and optimize the parts-production process to drive efficiency.

The 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.

“Manufacturing facilities and workers are often the backbones of their communities, especially in rural and remote areas,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Forests. “Investing in the growth of a wood-manufacturing company means investing in a community and its people. These five projects from the BC Jobs Manufacturing Fund support the growth of these wood-manufacturing companies making more local high-quality wood products and creating the next generation of forestry jobs.”

Funding through the BCMJF is part of a series of programs the Province has introduced to support the growth of value-added manufacturing in B.C. 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, buffering against global market challenges.

Building resilient economies through the BCMJF is part of the Province’s work through the StrongerBC Economic Plan to build a strong and sustainable economy through clean and inclusive growth. Supporting B.C.’s manufacturing sector helps bring the government closer to its goal of building a more innovative economy for people, businesses and communities in B.C.

Quotes:

“Support from the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund for our new facility in Terrace fills us with immense pride. We are eager to embark on this journey, unlocking potential, creating employment and making a monstrous impact within the manufacturing sector in northwestern B.C. and beyond. Our commitment to success will invigorate and empower our team, fostering a culture of growth and achievement at Monster Industries.” – Kyle Thomson, owner, Monster Industries Ltd.

“This funding will support OT Timber Frames’ expansion into pre-manufacturing of our projects, an important part of a transition to a more competitive business model that will enable us to help address the housing shortage in B.C., secure our business for the years to come and create well-paying jobs in our rural community.” – Juergen Poepsel, operations manager, OT Timber Frames Ltd.

“Thanks to the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, this will allow us to expand our manufacturing facility located in 100 Mile House, in turn creating jobs in our small community, increasing our productivity of environmentally friendly products and innovating new ideas. The success of our business and communities critically depends on the support of our Province.” – Mike McNeil, owner, New Wave Docks Ltd.

“The BC Manufacturing Job Fund is a vital source of support for Conifex in Mackenzie, as it will help us fund some of the site upgrades that are essential for our competitiveness and sustainability. We are grateful for this opportunity to invest in our operations and our workforce, and to contribute to the economic recovery and growth of our community and province.” – David Mazurek, director, energy and capital projects, Conifex Mackenzie Forest Products Inc.

“We are grateful for the support from the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund for our operations in Vanderhoof. This funding helps facilitate investments in precision manufacturing that will allow us to meet increasing customer demand across North America for parts and services for modern wood-processing facilities.” – Lisa Minnie, vice-president, finance, Bid Group Technologies Ltd.

Learn More:

For information about the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, visit: https://gov.bc.ca/ManufacturingJobsFund

For information about the StrongerBC Economic Plan, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/plan

To view the original release, click here.

Source: Government of British Columbia