Closed
Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills
Workforce funding for agriculture and food projects
Last Update: April 9, 2026
Funding available
$ 250,000
Timeline
- Open Date : December 4, 2024
- Closing date : December 23, 2024
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Overview
This program provides up to $250,000 per project at 70% of eligible costs. It supports BC agriculture, seafood, and food workforce projects focused on recruitment, retention, and innovative skills development.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Attract or retain talent
- Increase operational productivity
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 250,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : December 4, 2024
- Closing date : December 23, 2024
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Manufacturing
Location
- British Columbia
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- Public or Parapublic institution
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Persons with Disabilities
- Newcomers to Canada
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Employment and Training
- Business Associations
- Children and Youth Organizations
- Diversity and Inclusion
Target groups
- Children & youth
- Indigenous peoples
- New immigrants & refugees
- People with disabilities
- Rural / Remote communities
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Nonprofits / charities
- Low-income individuals / families
- Minority groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Recruitment initiatives for domestic workers in agriculture, seafood, and food processing
- Retention initiatives and workplace improvement projects
- Skills training and workforce development models
- Partnerships and pilot initiatives that support workforce participation and inclusion
Documents Needed
- Organization registration details
- Project summary and objectives
- Proposed project dates
- Project budget and funding request
- Supporting documents, such as letters of support, CVs, or quotes
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Agriculture, food, or seafood industry organizations
- Indigenous groups, organizations, and communities in the sector
- Local governments engaged in the sector
- Partnerships of producers, processors, nonprofits, industry associations, employer organizations, or Indigenous groups
Who is not eligible
- Individual producers or processors applying alone
- Academic institutions as lead applicants
- Non-agricultural or non-food individuals or groups
Eligible expenses
- Costs for recruitment, retention, and skilled workforce development activities
- Tools, resources, communications strategies, and technologies for workforce support
- Delivery of training programs and employer or management training activities
- Initiatives that reduce barriers to workforce participation or support retention
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Research projects or labour market studies
- Activities related to temporary foreign workers
- In-kind costs, GST, and other reimbursed taxes or credits
- Retroactive costs incurred before approval
- Capital, equipment, operational costs, employee housing, relocation, or wages
Eligible geographic areas
- British Columbia
Processing and Agreement
- EOIs are reviewed for eligibility, completeness, and alignment with program criteria
- Only EOIs that meet the threshold are invited to submit a full application
- Full applications are screened again and assessed against the evaluation criteria
- If approved, the applicant receives the decision and signs a contribution agreement before work begins
- Funding is then reimbursed through reports submitted in the IAF Client Portal
Additional information
- EOI decisions are expected within 8 weeks of submission.
- Successful EOI applicants have 10 business days to complete the full application.
- Funding acknowledgements for public communications must be pre-approved through the IAF Client Portal.
- Project payments are made by EFT to the lead organization.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills?
This program provides up to $250,000 per project at 70% of eligible costs. It supports BC agriculture, seafood, and food workforce projects focused on recruitment, retention, and innovative skills development.
How much funding can be received?
Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills Funds up to 70% of admissible expenses, capped at $250,000 per project.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was December 23, 2024.
Who is eligible for the Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills program?
To be eligible for the Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills program, you must:
Based in British Columbia
Legal entity
Workforce-focused project
What expenses are eligible under Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills?
Recruitment initiatives for domestic workers in agriculture, seafood, and food processing
Retention initiatives and workplace improvement projects
Skills training and workforce development models
Partnerships and pilot initiatives that support workforce participation and inclusion
Who can I contact for more information about the Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills?
You can contact Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF) by email at rrist@iafbc.ca or by phone at 250-940-6150.
Where is the Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills available?
The Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills program is available the province of British Columbia.