B.C.'s Jobs Minister Diana Gibson has announced $5 million for the province's manufacturing jobs fund.
One of the recipients was Barriere’s own Gilbert Smith Forest Products Ltd., a family-owned and operated lumber mill that manufactures specialty cedar products.
The $1,096,000 from the government supports facility modernization and new equipment that will enable the production of new, in-demand products from a wider range of fibre inputs, noted the province’s website about the various projects receiving funding.
“This project will expand the range of value-add products made in-house, increase productivity and create nine jobs.”
Gibson, who was in Prince George for the announcement Wednesday (Jan. 15) with Forests Minister Ravi Parmar, said the $5 million would lead to about 100 forestry-related jobs. The funds will go toward seven forest-sector capital projects and five planning projects.
Other communities with projects that received funding are Maple Ridge, Surrey, Kamloops, Penticton, Cranbrook, Kelowna, Squamish, Burns Lake, Fruitvale and Lavington.
Gibson added the province is partnering with forestry companies throughout B.C. to grow and stabilize their operations and get the most of the province's fibre supply, "while producing more made-in-B.C.-engineered wood products."
The B.C. Manufacturing Jobs Fund is meant to help manufacturing companies modernize, innovate and grow. It's a series of programs the province has introduced to support sustainability in B.C.'s forestry sector.
A release from the province says that nearly one-quarter of all wood-product manufacturers in B.C. have applied to the program.
With files Lauren Collins
