Wednesday December 27, 2023 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Just a few days before Christmas, this news about boosting three manufacturing operators on Vancouver Island was released.
Funds were made available through the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund. The fund supports for-profit businesses to plan and launch shovel-ready, high-value industrial and manufacturing projects that bring direct benefits and stable, family-supporting jobs to communities, while driving clean and inclusive growth throughout the province.
The new funding will increase advanced manufacturing capabilities in the transportation sector and the forest sector while creating and protecting local jobs.
“We’re working together with innovative manufacturing companies as they look to grow and bring long-term, sustainable jobs to communities throughout B.C.,” said Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation, in a news release on December 20. “By investing in companies as they upgrade and modernize, we’re also investing in strengthening local economies.”
Heavy-duty commercial electric vehicles:
The Government of B.C. is contributing as much as $3.4 million through the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund to help Nanaimo-based VMAC Global Technology Inc. grow its operations by establishing a new 465-square-metre (5,000 sq ft) manufacturing facility. It also will help buy equipment to scale up the production of lightweight air compressors for the heavy-duty commercial electric vehicle (EV) market, including semi-trucks, buses and other specialized vehicles requiring air brakes and air suspension.
VMAC’s technology allows for longer range and lower maintenance costs, enabling greater adoption among the commercial market and significantly reducing emissions. VMAC also incorporates circular economy elements into its operations by reusing aluminum and steel in production and maximizing the use of all raw materials. This project increases B.C.’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, aligns with CleanBC’s priorities to strengthen adoption and infrastructure of heavy-duty EVs, and creates 45 new jobs at VMAC.
“As a successful manufacturing and export business in Nanaimo, with over 180 employees, VMAC is proud to provide high-quality local jobs and support various local suppliers in Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island and in B.C.,” said Brent Johnston, CEO, VMAC Global Technology Inc. “This has been VMAC’s driving purpose for the past 38 years and the support from the Province of British Columbia will enable us to continue this mission.”
Wood and wood products:
Two Island-based wood-product manufacturers are receiving funds from the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund to grow their businesses, while creating and maintaining local jobs:
- Port Alberni – Franklin Forest Products Ltd. will receive as much as $425,000 to buy new equipment that will allow it shift from processing old-growth logs to a broader range of log sizes and grades, helping the company protect 37 existing jobs and create five new ones; and
- Chemainus – BioFlame Briquettes, which manufactures briquettes from waste sawdust and logging residual from the forestry industry, will receive as much as $117,320 to buy and commission a hammermill and briquette press that will increase fibre diversity and production at its facility, allow it to take logging waste directly from the forest to reduce wildfire risk and decrease risk of fibre supply uncertainty, and create four new jobs.
Part of StrongerBC:
Building resilient economies is part of the Province’s work through the StrongerBC Economic Plan to build a strong and sustainable economy through clean and inclusive growth. Supporting B.C.’s manufacturing and agricultural sectors helps bring government closer to its goal of building a more innovative economy for people, businesses and communities throughout B.C.
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