Forestry Grant in Canada
Grants for Canadian Forestry Companies
Canada’s forestry industry is transforming as businesses invest in innovation, clean technology, and sustainable growth. Across the country, companies can access a broad network of funding programs—from federal initiatives like Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT), Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), and Green Construction Through Wood (GCWood), to provincial programs that target modernization and emissions reduction. These grants help sawmills, engineered wood producers, and biomass energy developers upgrade equipment, improve efficiency, and develop new products for global markets. Combined with growing support for Indigenous-led forestry projects, this wave of funding is helping Canada’s forest sector remain competitive, reduce carbon impacts, and drive the shift toward a cleaner, circular economy.

ÉcoPerformance — Recommissioning of building mechanical systems

Financing to respond to the offensive of new tariffs and for initiatives for resilient and exporting companies (FRONTIERE)


Expanded Energy Management Program

AgriAssurance Program – National Industry Association Component


AgriInnovate Program

ECO Canada — Youth Employment in Natural Resources YNR
- Maximum amount : 20,000 $
- Up to 75% of project cost
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Management of companies and enterprises

Innovative Projects Program

Forest Innovation Program

Technoclimat

FedNor — Regional Tariff Response Initiative

Call for innovation projects in artificial intelligence and quantum technologies – collaborative industrial research and support for entrepreneurship

Wood Innovation Program — Component 2

Wood Innovation Program - component 1

Indigenous Forestry Initiative

Ambition-Compétences — Training for resilience and competitiveness in employment

Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) for Northern Ontario

Capital Retrofits

Youth Initiative to Combat Climate Change - Education and Awareness

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — British Columbia

Productivity-Skills

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) — Northern Ontario

Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program (IFIT) — Business projects

Regions and Rurality Fund (RRF) - Component 1 - Support for regional outreach
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CRIBIQ — PARTENAR-IA — Industry

Youth Initiative to Combat Climate Change - Entrepreneurship and Green Economy

Workplace first aid training

Federal Logging Tax Credit

Genomics integration program – Agriculture and biofood, forestry and environment

Northern Ontario Development Program — Community Economic Development

Sustainable Growth Investment — Agri-Environmental Enhancement of Cultivated Land

Financial assistance for large-scale northern projects

MRC La Matapédia — Regions and Rurality Fund of La Matapédia - 2024 Business Support Policy

MRC Témiscamingue — Business Succession Loan


Rouyn-Noranda — FLI-FLS – Entrepreneurial Succession

MRC Témiscamingue — Youth Strategy Loan

Rouyn-Noranda — Local Investment (FLI) and Solidarity (FLS) Funds


MRC Matawinie — Local investment fund

MRC Fjord-du-Saguenay — Entrepreneurship assistance and support fund (FASE)

MRC de D’Autray — FLI/FLS

MRC Témiscamingue — Youth Assistance Loan

MRC Portneuf — Sustainable Forest Management Program

MRC Montmagny — Sustainable Forest Management Program (PADF)

Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW) — Positions in QC

Innovation in Quantum Technologies — Stream 3

Ville de La Tuque — RRF stream 2 - Support for local and regional development skills

MRC Charlevoix-Est — Sustainable Forest Management Program
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Genome British Columbia — GeneSolve Program

MRC Fjord-du-Saguenay — Development Optimisation Fund

MRC Caniapiscau — FDE

MRC Les Appalaches — Water quality improvement fund

MRC Portneuf — Capitale-Nationale Region Fund (FRCN)

MRC Témiscouata — Signature Innovation Fund - Component 3 - Rurality and Region Fund

AgriInvest

Genomic Applications Partnership Program (GAPP) — Alberta

Rouyn-Noranda — FLI Succession

Next Generation of Jobs Fund

SurreyCares Community Foundation - Free to Play


Community Action Initiative (CAI) - Lived and Living Experience Employment Grant


Rangeland Sustainability Program (RSP)

Regional Initiatives Fund (FAIR)

Accompaniment and technical support for Québec forestry companies (MASTE)

Balancing our Triple Bottom Line

Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA)

Agricultural Technology Transfer and Licencing

PRCCM – Stream 2

Bell Canada - Bell True Patriot Love Fund

Forest Biomass Program — Exploring biomass pathways stream

Technology Access Centres (TAC)

Atlantic Investment Tax Credit
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Local Food Infrastructure Fund - Small Scale Projects

Small Business Recovery (SBR) Consulting Rebate

Rouyn-Noranda — Structuring Projects Fund (FPS)

The Newfoundland and Labrador Disaster Financial Assistance Program (NL-DFAP)

BOLT Grant Program

British Columbia logging tax credit

innovÉÉ — PARTENAR-IA — Industry

Forest Biomass Program — Modernization stream

Culture and Heritage Grants and Contributions Program - Culture and Heritage

Northern Industries Innovation Fund

CICE 2023 Directed Call for Innovation — Measurement, Monitoring and Verification (MMV) of Carbon Management

Forest Biomass Program — Innovative bioproduct manufacturing stream

Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP)

Sector development program

STIP — Resource Road Program


Ecosystem Services Grant Program

Off-Road Vehicle Financial Assistance Program - Wildlife and Habitat Protection Stream

CRIBIQ — PSO-Bioproducts and bioprocesses

Alternative Land Use Services Program

Mental Health Grants



Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) — Capital Investment Projects

Any questions about grants for the forestry industry?
Which types of forestry businesses are eligible for government grants?
Are there province-specific grants for forestry?
- Quebec funds wood value-added processing and modernization.
- Alberta supports regional forestry resilience and workforce stability.
- Ontario provides grants for fibre access, transportation and harvesting equipment.
- British Columbia focuses on climate adaptation, sustainable procurement and small community forest businesses. Each directory page links to full provincial programs.
Can forestry companies get funding for equipment or innovation?
- Harvesting machinery upgrades (feller bunchers, chippers, conveyors)
- Energy efficiency improvements (dry kilns, cogeneration systems)
- Value-added wood products from secondary processing
- Digital transformation tools (scanners, tracking software) Grants often cover 25% to 75% of eligible costs depending on the province and business size.
Are there training or hiring support programs for the forestry sector?
- Wage subsidies for new or returning workers
- Equipment operator training and re-skilling programs
- Indigenous or small-scale forestry workforce programs These are mostly managed through provincial workforce or rural development departments.
Can forestry companies affected by U.S. tariffs receive compensation or relief?
- Market diversification grants
- Export readiness assistance
- Capital aid for value-added transformation to reduce reliance on raw lumber exports
What documents are needed to apply?
- Detailed project plan
- Recent or projected financial statements
- Proof of Canadian business registration and tax compliance
- In some cases, an environmental impact justification or letters of support Processing times usually range from 4 to 12 weeks.
What else should I know about Forestry Grants in Canada?
Forestry Grants in Canada: Funding Programs for Sustainable Growth and Innovation
Why Forestry Companies Need Funding and Grants
- Invest in new manufacturing equipment and automation.
- Adopt clean technologies that reduce carbon emissions.
- Expand into bio-based and circular economy products.
- Support Indigenous partnerships and community development.
- Finance research and development (R&D) for new wood products.
Federal Forestry Grants and Programs
Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT)
- Pilot or demonstration of new forestry technologies
- Process optimization or waste reduction projects
- Commercialization of sustainable wood-based products
Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC)
Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF)
- Increase productivity and competitiveness
- Strengthen supply chains
- Create sustainable jobs in rural areas
Clean Growth Program (NRCan)
- Improving energy efficiency in sawmills and wood drying facilities
- Reducing waste and water use in wood processing
- Integrating renewable energy systems into forestry operations
Indigenous Forestry Initiative
National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP)
Provincial Forestry Funding Programs
British Columbia Forestry Grants
- BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund (MJFF): Supports forest sector projects that create jobs and improve competitiveness. Priority is given to manufacturing diversification and value-added wood production.
- CleanBC Industry Fund: Provides funding for industrial projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Forestry companies can apply for energy efficiency retrofits or biomass energy projects.
- Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC): Focuses on wildfire risk reduction, reforestation, and improving the use of wood fibre. It funds both community and commercial forestry initiatives.
Ontario Forestry Incentives
- Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program (FSIIP): Ontario’s flagship forestry grant, offering up to 30% of eligible project costs for innovation, new equipment, or process improvements.
- Regional Development Program (RDP): Supports modernization and expansion of forestry-related manufacturing facilities, particularly in northern and rural Ontario.
- Ontario Centres of Innovation (OCI): Provides funding and partnerships for R&D and technology adoption in the wood industry.
Québec Forestry Subventions
- Programme Innovation Bois (Investissement Québec): Supports projects that increase productivity, integrate advanced technology, or develop innovative wood products.
- Fonds du Développement Forestier Durable: Finances projects that improve forest management and promote sustainable harvesting.
- Bioénergie et transformation du bois programs: Support the use of forest biomass to produce clean energy and diversify product lines.
Alberta and Atlantic Canada Programs
- Alberta Innovates – Bioindustrial Opportunities: Provides funding for bio-based products, advanced materials, and clean energy derived from wood biomass.
- Northern Alberta Development Council (NADC): Supports regional economic diversification, including forestry innovation.
- Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA): Offers funding for productivity improvements and innovation in wood processing.
- Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC): Provides support for business expansion and equipment acquisition in the forest sector.
Emerging Funding Themes in the Forestry Sector
1. Green and Low-Carbon Manufacturing
2. Digital Transformation
3. Bioeconomy and Circular Innovation
4. Indigenous Collaboration
5. Workforce Development
How to Qualify and Apply for Forestry Grants
- Define a clear project plan: Describe the innovation, sustainability, or modernization goal.
- Demonstrate measurable impact: Outline economic benefits, job creation, and environmental improvements.
- Ensure alignment with program objectives: Each grant supports specific outcomes (e.g., carbon reduction, innovation, Indigenous engagement).
- Prepare documentation: Financial statements, project budgets, and business plans are typically required.
- Apply early: Many forestry programs have limited intake periods or competitive evaluation rounds.
Why Work With a Grant Consultant
- Identify all available programs for your specific project.
- Prepare strong technical and financial applications.
- Manage submissions and reporting obligations.
- Save time and improve funding success rates.