Buy BC Partnership Program

• Completed application form submitted through the MNP online Application Portal
• Valid Buy BC logo licence for the products included in the project
• Project budget file using the program template
• Price quotes for budget items over $5,000

Who is eligible?

• Primary agriculture producers in British Columbia (including growers, harvesters, ranchers, and those producing fresh food or agricultural products 100% grown or raised in B.C.)
• Seafood producers in British Columbia (including harvesters and those producing seafood products 100% caught or raised in B.C.)
• Agriculture, food, beverage, and seafood processors and cooperatives that transform raw materials into new products with at least 51% of final production costs originating in B.C.
• Agriculture, food, and/or beverage industry associations, boards, and councils that represent and support B.C.-based producers, processors, and cooperatives
• Cannabis producers, processors, and industry associations that meet the program’s specific cannabis-related requirements

Who is not eligible

• Farmers’ markets, agricultural fairs and exhibitions.
• Food hubs and other processing facilities that do not fall under the defined producer/processor/cooperative categories.
• Retailers, wholesalers and distributors (they may obtain a Buy BC logo licence but are not eligible for cost-shared funding).
• Non-profit organizations whose role is to promote local food and beverages but that do not qualify as industry associations, boards or councils representing B.C. producers or processors.

Eligible expenses

• Development and production of Buy BC–branded advertisements (digital, radio, print, transit, TV), including design, creative services and purchase of ad space on eligible platforms (including boosted/sponsored social media posts and certain social media campaigns with influencers or brand ambassadors).
• Design and printing costs for the first run of product labels and packaging that incorporate the Buy BC logo for logo-licensed products.
• Creation and production of Buy BC–branded marketing collateral and promotional materials such as videos, brochures, rack cards, posters, banners, recipe cards, point-of-sale signs, shelf-talkers, truck wraps, social media visuals and similar tools (including limited staff-branded apparel).
• Costs to exhibit for the first time at B.C.-focused trade shows and sales expositions, including registration fees, booth rentals and upgrades, booth graphics/backdrops, equipment rentals, translation services, chef services, on-site storage, shipping of product samples and general booth service fees (e.g. garbage collection, electricity).
• Expenses for B.C.-focused in-store demonstrations and promotions, including hiring brand ambassadors, product sampling in grocery retailers or food service establishments, and production and use of in-store signage and promotional materials featuring the Buy BC logo.
• Staff wages directly related to the implementation and execution of approved project activities (e.g. coordinating campaigns, managing trade show presence, running in-store demos, preparing funded marketing materials).

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Education or scientific activities that are not promotional, for cannabis-related applications
• Promotional TV, radio, billboard, transit, and social media ads for cannabis-related applications
• Subsequent label or packaging printing costs after the first run
• Retail or food service in-store merchandising services and third-party retainer fees for in-store buyer presentations
• SEO activities, Google Search Ads, website/IT upgrades, e-commerce development, travel, accommodation, sampling product costs, and repeat activities already funded in past years

Eligible geographic areas

• Businesses with their head office in British Columbia (B.C.), Canada, or that are otherwise authorized to do business in B.C.
• Projects promoting local agriculture, food and beverage products within the province of British Columbia.

• After the intake closes, Program Administration (MNP LLP) reviews all complete applications to confirm eligibility and completeness.
• Eligible applications are then evaluated through a competitive, merit-based process against the program’s assessment criteria and available budget (not first-come, first-served).
• Applicants are notified of the decision by email; unsuccessful applicants may request feedback on their application.
• Approved applicants are invited to sign a Funding Agreement that sets out project activities, timelines, eligible expenses, reporting requirements, and reimbursement instructions.
• Once the Funding Agreement is fully executed, recipients can begin incurring eligible expenses and must later submit required reports, invoices, and proof of payment to receive reimbursement.

• The program is administered on behalf of the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Food by MNP LLP through an online application portal.
• Applications are assessed through a competitive, merit-based process rather than on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Past funding recipients are evaluated on previous reporting quality, timeliness, budget respect, and achieved results when reapplying.
• All communications and marketing materials using the Buy BC logo must be submitted for review and receive written approval before public release.