B.C. Reinforcing Manufacturing Sector On Vancouver Island

New funding is being freed up to help manufacturing businesses on Vancouver Island.

“We’re working together with innovative manufacturing companies as they look to grow and bring long-term, sustainable jobs to communities throughout B.C.,” said Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation.

“By investing in companies as they upgrade and modernize, we’re also investing in strengthening local economies.”

The cash will help make better use of available wood fibre in the forest sector and create and protect local jobs.

The Government of B.C. is contributing as much as $3.4 million through the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund to help Nanaimo-based VMAC Global Technology Inc., to help grow its operations with a new facility.

It also will help buy equipment to scale up the production of lightweight air compressors for the growing heavy-duty commercial electric vehicle market, including semi-trucks, buses and other specialized vehicles requiring air brakes and air suspension.

Also, two Island-based wood-product manufacturers are receiving funds, including Franklin Forest Products in Port Alberni.

It’s getting as much as $425,000 to buy new equipment that will allow it to shift from processing old-growth logs to a broader range of log sizes and grades.

That will help the company protect 37 existing jobs and create five new ones.

The BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund 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.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.