Industry News News
Two B.C. wood products manufacturers get funding

Two Vancouver Island-based wood-product manufacturers are receiving funds from the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund to grow their businesses, while creating and maintaining local jobs.

In Port Alberni, Franklin Forest Products will receive 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, helping the company protect 37 existing jobs and create five new ones.

“Franklin Forest Products appreciates the financial support from the Province. The funds will help retool the operation to become less reliant on old-growth timber and protect the nearly 40 jobs in the Port Alberni community,” said Mike McKay, president, Franklin Forest Products.

In Chemainus, BioFlame Briquettes, which manufactures briquettes from waste sawdust and logging residual from the forestry industry, will receive as much as $117,320 to buy and commission a hammermill and briquette press that will increase fibre diversity and production at its facility, allow it to take logging waste directly from the forest to reduce wildfire risk and decrease risk of fibre supply uncertainty, and create four new jobs.

“Thanks to the BC Manufacturing Fund, BioFlame is able to acquire the necessary equipment to transform low-value wood waste into densified biomass. This waste includes construction and logging residue, allowing BioFlame to increase production and meet demand,” said Marcus Woernle, CEO, BioFlame Briquettes.

In a statement, the B.C. government said new funding for manufacturing businesses on Vancouver Island will increase advanced manufacturing capabilities, make better use of available wood fibre in the forest sector and create and protect local jobs.

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.