Business

Government support coming for agriculture businesses

By Richmond Sentinel

Published 11:30 PDT, Fri May 15, 2020

Last Updated: 2:13 PDT, Wed May 12, 2021

Agriculture, seafood and food processing businesses in British Columbia can access services to help with COVID-19 response and recovery, through a program offered by the federal and provincial governments.

The latest intake of the BC Agri-Business Planning Program is open to applications and has been expanded to include aquaculture and seafood companies in developing COVID-19 business recovery plans.

“This investment will help BC farmers and processors who are experiencing income loss steer the course to recovery and continue to put high-quality food on our grocery store shelves and kitchen tables for years to come,” said federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau.

BC agriculture, seafood and food processing business owners are encouraged to apply if their revenues have decreased by at least 30 per cent as a result of COVID-19. The funding available includes up to $5,000 in business planning services and coaching for individuals, and up to $20,000 for groups, from a qualified business consultant, to develop an immediate and long-term recovery plan. 

Eligible applicants may also apply to the specialized business planning stream of the program to further strengthen their business.

“I have been working with my federal colleague on ways to help people who are experiencing income loss through the pandemic, and the expansion of the BC Agri-Business Planning Program is a result of this commitment,” said provincial Agriculture Minister Lana Popham. “We will continue to look at ways to help our industry grow the high-quality local food that we depend on.”

The Canadian Agricultural Partnership, which is providing funding for the program, is a five-year federal-provincial-territorial agreement that includes $2 billion in cost-shared strategic initiatives delivered by the provinces and territories, and $1 billion for federal programs and services through March 2023. 

The new activities related to fish, seafood and aquaculture companies are not eligible for funding under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Funding for activities related to fish, seafood and aquaculture companies will be provided by the BC Ministry of Agriculture through the BC Agri-Business Planning Program.

Information and application details for BC Agri-Business Planning Program is available here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/programs/agri-business-planning-program

For more information on the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, visit: http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/about-our-department/key-departmental-initiatives/canadian-agricultural-partnership/?id=1461767369849

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