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Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills - British Columbia - Canada
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Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills

Supports BC agriculture workforce recruitment and skills training
Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF)
Last Update: April 2, 2026
Funding available
$ 250,000
Timeline
  • Open Date : January 1, 2025
  • Closing date : April 2, 2026
Location
British Columbia, Canada

Overview

The Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills Training (RRIST) Program, part of the Agriculture and Food Workforce Development Initiative, offers a maximum funding of $250,000 to support BC's agriculture industry in adopting innovative tools and practices for recruiting and retaining domestic workers. Eligible activities include developing new training programs, increasing workforce diversity, and improving recruitment and retention strategies.

/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.

At a glance

Funding available

Financing goals
  • Increase performance through digital transformation
  • Attract or retain talent
  • Develop a new product or service
Eligible Funding
  • Maximum amount : 250,000 $
  • Up to 70% of project cost
Timeline
  • Open Date : January 1, 2025
  • Closing date : April 2, 2026

Eligible candidates

Eligible Industries
  • Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
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
  • Economic, Social and Community Development
  • Employment and Training
  • Business Associations
  • 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
  • Local
  • Municipal
  • Regional
  • Provincial

Next steps

1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility

Activities funded

This grant supports projects that aim to enhance workforce development in the agriculture and food industries in British Columbia. Eligible activities include initiatives that raise awareness about career opportunities and improve worker recruitment and retention through innovative strategies.

  • Developing and leading new approaches to raise awareness of and promote food and agriculture careers among youth and adults.
  • Creating tools, resources, and technologies that improve worker recruitment, retention, and coordination of seasonal workers.
  • Developing and piloting skills and training programs that address industry gaps and are tied to job opportunities or advancement in the sector.
  • Providing employer or management education and training activities to adopt best practices in recruitment and workplace improvements.
  • Forming partnerships to support employment for populations facing barriers to employment and promote diversity and inclusion in the workforce.
  • Piloting initiatives that remove barriers to workforce participation and promote retention, such as transportation and childcare solutions.
  • Industry-led initiatives to adopt new approaches to address labour market challenges and improve human resource development.

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

The RRIST program supports projects that address labor market needs in the agriculture and food sectors. Eligible applicants include organizations based in British Columbia such as agriculture, food, and seafood industry organizations, Indigenous groups engaged in these industries, local governments, and partnerships among producers, processors, non-profit organizations, industry associations, or employer organizations. Individual producers or processors are not eligible to apply individually, and academic institutions cannot be lead applicants but may participate in projects led by an eligible applicant.

Who is not eligible

This grant excludes certain participants and activities to ensure alignment with its strategic objectives in supporting the agriculture, seafood, and food industries in British Columbia. Here are the key types of ineligible companies and activities related to this grant.

  • Individual producers or processors applying on their own, unless part of a partnership.
  • Academic institutions, unless supporting a project led by an eligible applicant.
  • Non-agricultural or food-related individuals or groups.

Eligible expenses

The grant covers expenses directly related to workforce development in the agriculture and food sectors in BC.

  • Development and delivery of innovative programs for raising awareness and promoting food and agriculture careers.
  • Tools and resources for recruitment, retention, and coordination of seasonal workers.
  • Pilot and delivery models that address identified industry gaps in skills training.
  • Employer or management education and training activities for workforce improvements.
  • Creation of partnerships supporting employment for populations facing barriers to employment.
  • Pilot initiatives to reduce barriers to workforce participation.
  • Industry-led initiatives to adopt new practices addressing labour market challenges.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant targets entities operating within a specific area to meet regional workforce needs. Eligibility is constrained to encourage local collaboration and development.

  • Organizations based in the province of British Columbia, Canada.

Additional information

Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

  • The deadline for submitting an Expression of Interest is December 23, 2024, at 4 PM PT.
  • Retroactive costs are not eligible; all activities must be approved before commencing.
  • Projects must be completed by February 28, 2026, with no extensions beyond the 12-month implementation period.
  • Payment is made via EFT to the lead organization as stated in the contribution agreement.
  • The IAF provides tutorials and FAQs to help navigate the Client Portal efficiently.

Contacts

rrist@iafbc.ca

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?

The Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills Training (RRIST) Program, part of the Agriculture and Food Workforce Development Initiative, offers a maximum funding of $250,000 to support BC's agriculture industry in adopting innovative tools and practices for recruiting and retaining domestic workers. Eligible activities include developing new training programs, increasing workforce diversity, and improving recruitment and retention strategies.

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 April 2, 2026.

Who is eligible for the Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills program?

To be eligible for the Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills program, you must: The applicant must be based in British Columbia and be an agriculture, food, or seafood industry organization, Indigenous group, local government, or a partnership of eligible entities. All applicants must be legal entities able to enter into a contractual agreement for fund transfer. Individual producers or processors must apply as part of a partnership, with a lead applicant.

What expenses are eligible under Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills?

This grant supports projects that aim to enhance workforce development in the agriculture and food industries in British Columbia. Eligible activities include initiatives that raise awareness about career opportunities and improve worker recruitment and retention through innovative strategies. Developing and leading new approaches to raise awareness of and promote food and agriculture careers among youth and adults. Creating tools, resources, and technologies that improve worker recruitment, retention, and coordination of seasonal workers. Developing and piloting skills and training programs that address industry gaps and are tied to job opportunities or advancement in the sector. Providing employer or management education and training activities to adopt best practices in recruitment and workplace improvements. Forming partnerships to support employment for populations facing barriers to employment and promote diversity and inclusion in the workforce. Piloting initiatives that remove barriers to workforce participation and promote retention, such as transportation and childcare solutions. Industry-led initiatives to adopt new approaches to address labour market challenges and improve human resource development.

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.

Where is the Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills available?

The Recruitment, Retention and Innovative Skills program is available the province of British Columbia.

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