Value-added wood product manufacturers in British Columbia (BC) have been boosted with C$1m aid from the provincial government.
The money is part of an expanded programme to help companies update their business planning, technology and marketing activities.
The programme is a partnership between BC Wood and FP Innovations and managed by Forestry Innovation Investment Ltd (FII). FII has also provided another C$12m to help trade associations and others conduct 56 projects this year to market the province’s wood and to develop markets internationally.
“We’re investing in BC’s value-added sector because we recognise the importance of these small businesses in forestry communities,” said Rich Coleman, forests and range minister.
“The funds will help these operators get access to essential business development advice, which will help them develop new products and market them around the world.”
The programme will provide more than 700 companies with access to advisory services. More than half the firms are small businesses with under 15 employees.
BC’s specialty wood products manufacturing sector had sales of C$4.85bn in 2006.
