B.C. — Agri-Business Planning Program
BC, Canada
Supports business planning for B.C. agriculture and food sectors
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Grant and Funding
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- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
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- Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (SCAP)
- Government of British Columbia
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grant_card_status|open
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The B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program provides funding support up to $22,500 for business planning, preparedness, and disaster recovery to assist primary agricultural producers and processors in B.C. in making informed decisions and ensuring business development. Eligible activities include specialized training, business planning services, and risk assessment and mitigation.
grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions
This grant provides tailored financing options to agricultural producers and processors, focusing on leadership development and business preparedness. The funding structure is designed to maximize impact and resource efficiency.
- Stream 1: Agri-business skills and leadership development offers up to 70% reimbursement of eligible costs, with a maximum contribution of $2,000 per fiscal year.
- Stream 2: Business planning, preparedness, and disaster recovery offers up to $7,500 for individual businesses and up to $22,500 for group applications.
- A minimum reimbursement amount of $500 applies to both streams.
- Funding is provided through a reimbursement process to approved applicants.
- Stream 2 is eligible for interim payments upon meeting certain project conditions.
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There are two main streams under the B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program, each targeting specific areas to support agricultural businesses in their growth and sustainability. Stream 1 focuses on skills and leadership development, while Stream 2 provides assistance in business planning and disaster recovery.
- Learning and specialized training, courses, registration, fees, and tuition for business management and leadership.
- Business management topics including financial analysis, cash flow management, human resource management, cost of production, and benchmarking.
- Business planning services and coaching from a business consultant, targeting areas like disaster recovery, emergency planning, and risk mitigation.
- The development of comprehensive business recovery plans for businesses affected by events such as fire, flood, or disease outbreak.
- Production of written business plans and supporting documents following evaluation and consultant meetings.
- Travel costs for consultant on-site meetings with limitations.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$ 11,250
Provide specialized leadership development training for local organic farmers
$ 9,750
Offer a succession planning workshop series for family-owned farms based
$ 15,750
Develop an emergency response plan for dairy farms
$ 13,500
Develop a detailed business continuity and risk assessment plan for a microbrewery
$ 10,875
Implement financial literacy courses for young agripreneurs
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To be eligible for the B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Must be either a primary agriculture producer or an agriculture, food, and beverage processor.
- For primary agriculture producers, produce must be 100% grown or raised in British Columbia and intended for sale.
- For processors, products must be processed and packaged in B.C., with at least 51% of production costs originating in B.C.
- The business must be a B.C. registered, taxable entity like a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation, with a GST and business number.
- The business must file income tax under the Income Tax Act in British Columbia.
- The business must report total annual gross revenues greater than $50,000 in the previous year to Canada Revenue Agency.
- All proprietors, partners, members, or shareholders must be residents of British Columbia.
- Applicants must disclose any other funding received from B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food Programs or other B.C. provincial programs during the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership Agreement.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Eligible applicants for the B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program must be either primary agriculture producers or agriculture, food, and beverage processors operating in British Columbia. Primary producers must focus on growing or raising fresh food or agricultural products that are fully grown or raised in B.C. and intended for sale. Conversely, agriculture, food, and beverage processors must process and package their products in B.C., with at least 51% of the direct cost, such as raw materials and labor, sourced from within the province. Additionally, applicants must operate as registered businesses taxable in B.C., have a GST and business number, and report an annual gross revenue exceeding $50,000. All proprietors, partners, or shareholders should be residents of B.C., and any existing funding from the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food must be disclosed. The program also encourages Indigenous applicants and offers flexible delivery to reduce barriers and promote accessibility.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
This grant is not available to certain companies and industries based on their status or main activities. These restrictions safeguard the purpose of the grant for the benefit of the specific sectors it targets.
- Companies that are not registered taxable entities in British Columbia.
- Farms or processing businesses that do not meet the gross revenue criteria of over $50,000 annually.
- Businesses where proprietors, partners, members, or shareholders are not residents of British Columbia.
- Entities that do not disclose funding from other B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food programs during the Sustainable-CAP Agreement.
- Farms involved in activities such as providing landscaping, riding lessons, or boarding horses, which are considered non-commodity income.
- Businesses involved in agri-tourism, sales of forestry products, or other similar non-commodity activities.
- Companies not primarily engaged in growing, raising, or processing agricultural products in British Columbia.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
The B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program offers funding for projects that enhance business skills and planning capabilities within the agriculture sector. The eligible activities aim to support improved business management and recovery planning.
- Learning and specialized training in business management areas such as financial analysis, cash flow management, and human resource management.
- Participation in business leadership courses and management conferences.
- Business planning services focusing on disaster recovery, emergency preparedness, and strategy development.
- Consultation for risk assessment, succession planning, and value-added ventures.
- On-site consultant meetings to provide advisory services and plan evaluations.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
This grant is available exclusively to businesses in British Columbia. Eligible companies are those that are registered and operate within this province.
- Businesses registered in British Columbia, Canada.
- Entities operating within the boundaries of British Columbia.
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grant_single_labels|register
Steps to apply for the B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program application:
- Step 1: Review Eligibility
- Ensure that you meet all eligibility criteria as a primary agriculture producer or an agriculture, food, and beverage processor in B.C.
- Verify business revenue requirements and ownership criteria.
- Step 2: Choose Stream and Plan
- Decide if you are applying for Stream 1 (Agri-business skills and leadership development) or Stream 2 (Business planning, preparedness, and disaster recovery).
- Prepare the necessary documentation and plans according to your chosen stream.
- Step 3: Complete Application Forms
- Access the Program Guide to understand detailed requirements.
- Download and fill out all required forms such as the Learning Action Plan or the Taking Stock Action Plan.
- Step 4: Assemble Supporting Documents
- Gather all necessary documentation such as a B.C. business registration, GST numbers, and income tax filings.
- Include any financial or training documentation relevant to the program stream you are applying for.
- Step 5: Submit Application
- Upload completed application forms and documents through the ministry's Program Operation Data System (PODS) Applicant Portal.
- Ensure that all signatures and necessary attachments are included.
- Double-check that you have met all requirements and deadlines.
- Step 6: Application Confirmation
- Receive confirmation of submission through the online portal or via email.
- Keep the confirmation email for reference and future inquiries.
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The B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program offers resources and guidelines aimed at supporting agriculture and food businesses in British Columbia.
- Indigenous applicants are encouraged to reach out to program staff with any questions.
- Program contact information: Email Agribusiness@gov.bc.ca or call AgriService at 1-888-221-7141.
- A variety of forms and resources are provided including program guides, application checklists, and sample templates for business planning.
- Program operations are managed through the Program Operation Data System (PODS) Applicant Portal.
- The current application intake is now closed, with the next intake expected to open later in 2024.
grant_single_labels|contact
Agribusiness@gov.bc.ca
1-888-221-7141
