Programs change, so please contact us to confirm details before applying.
This page is intended purely to highlight some of the funding and support options available to manufacturers in the Okanagan, and to help raise their visibility within our community. Whether you are a funder listed below, or a manufacturer, if you see any errors or omissions, please email us at info@okmn.ca.
Your Goal
Start Here
Hire or train employees
Export to new markets
Do R&D, prototyping, or tech development
Modernize equipment or expand your plant
Cut energy costs or decarbonize
Claim incentives or tax credits
Access loans or flexible financing
Talent & Training
- Innovate BC – Innovator Skills Initiative (ISI): Up to $10,000 wage subsidy to hire first‑time tech talent into tech‑related roles.
Learn more → - Mitacs Accelerate: Co‑funded research internships (company cash matched) for R&D, prototyping, data/AI, and validation.
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- Mitacs Business Strategy Internships (BSI): Co‑funded business/market strategy interns via partner schools.
Learn more → - B.C. Employer Training Grant (ETG): Cost‑shares employer‑driven skills training; streams and caps vary by year.
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- Student Work Placement Program (SWPP): Federal wage subsidies for work‑integrated learning placements across partner delivery orgs.
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Export & Market Entry
- Export Navigator (BC): Free 1:1 export advising for each region of BC.
Learn more → - CUSMA (USMCA) Compliance Advisory – Micro‑funding: Up to $5,000 for documentation/compliance support when selling to the U.S. (delivered via Export Navigator).
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- CanExport SMEs: Cost‑shares market development (trade shows, marketing, certifications) when entering new countries.
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- EDC (Export Development Canada): Guarantees, bonding, and working‑capital solutions for exporters via your bank.
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R&D & Innovation
- NRC IRAP: Advisory + non‑dilutive project funding for Canadian SME R&D and commercialization.
Learn more → - Mitacs Accelerate Entrepreneur: Supports founder‑led R&D linked to academic supervision.
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- NSERC Alliance: University industry research cost share grants; can be paired with Mitacs internships.
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- Innovate BC – Ignite (and other calls): Competitive funding for industry‑academic R&D in key sectors.
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Capital & Scale-Up
- BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund (BCMJF): Non‑repayable funding to modernize/expand manufacturing and create jobs (readiness + capital streams).
Learn more → - PacifiCan – Business Scale‑up & Productivity (BSF/BSP): Repayable growth funding to adopt tech, scale operations, and boost productivity (competitive intakes).
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- Community Futures (North/Central/South Okanagan): Flexible loans and advisory for regional SMEs.
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- BDC (Business Development Bank of Canada): Term loans for equipment/real assets and working capital; advisory services.
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Clean Technology & Electrification
- CleanBC Industry Fund (CIF): Grants for projects that reduce industrial GHGs (electrification, fuel switching, process improvements).
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- BC Hydro – Industrial Electrification & Incentives: Funding for electrification studies, interconnection, and custom/standard efficiency upgrades.
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FortisBC – Industrial Efficiency Programs: Incentives for gas fired process efficiency and electrification transitions where applicable.
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Tax Credits & PST Exemptions
- SR&ED (Federal & BC): Tax credits for eligible R&D; enhanced refundable rate for eligible CCPCs.
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- BC PST – Production Machinery & Equipment (PM&E) Exemption: PST exemption on qualifying production equipment and related parts/consumables.
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Loans & Financing
- BDC: Equipment, real estate, and working‑capital financing; growth & transition options.
Learn more → - Community Futures: Community‑based loans and coaching across the Okanagan & Similkameen.
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- EDC: Export guarantees and insurance to unlock bank financing.
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- Futurpreneur (for founders 18–39): Startup loans + mentorship; can stack with BDC.
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Regional & Sector Add-Ons
- Agriculture & Agri‑Food Canada: Programs for agri‑food processors (equipment, market development, productivity).
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- Forestry Innovation / Manufacturing Streams: Periodic calls supporting value‑added wood, mass timber, and equipment upgrades.
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