New manufacturing jobs coming to Fraser Valley

AGASSIZ - New support for manufacturing businesses in the Fraser Valley will help create 108 jobs and promote the development of made-in-B.C. products, while strengthening local economies and communities.

"By growing local industries through the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund (BCMJF), we're helping communities across our province flourish," said Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. "We are bringing high-value manufacturing opportunities to businesses, which brings direct benefits to workers and families, while strengthening B.C.'s diverse economy."

Through the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, the Government of B.C. is contributing as much as $6 million toward three capital projects and one planning project in the Fraser Valley. These projects will see local manufacturers contribute to the region's economic development by enhancing local supply chains and contributing to the housing sector, while growing and diversifying their operations through new product lines and the use of new advanced equipment, helping to establish 108 new, sustainable local jobs.

AE Concrete Products Inc. is a precast concrete manufacturer that specializes in civil infrastructure and is relocating to Agassiz. It is receiving as much as $4.5 million to help construct a new facility on Sq'éwqel First Nation territory and will be the first anchor tenant at the new Seabird Island Industrial Park. The funding will allow the company to expand its business lines to include new precast products, which will support home and commercial infrastructure projects and create 40 jobs, providing employment and helping generate future business opportunities for Sq'éwqel members.

"We're excited about our new home on Seabird Island and our partnership with the Sq'éwqel First Nation," said Ian Graham, president of AE Concrete Products Inc. "It provides a foundation upon which to grow our business, while creating new employment opportunities for the community."

Columbia Kitchen Cabinets Ltd. is a wood-product manufacturer located in Abbotsford that creates custom cabinetry and kitchen products for the residential housing industry in B.C. and western North America. It is receiving as much as $1.1 million to support scaling up its facility and purchasing new automated equipment. It will double production capacity and create four new product lines that will help the company enter new U.S. markets. The project will create at least 48 jobs, including highly skilled positions.

"This funding will enhance Columbia's current expansion efforts by accelerating production capacity growth," said Ryan Loewen, chief executive officer, Columbia Kitchen Cabinets Ltd. "Expediting this process will not only foster our ability to craft more high-quality cabinetry for our customers in North America, but also will create dozens of job opportunities locally and allow for more efficient implementation of industry-leading technologies."

Additional Fraser Valley-based manufacturers receiving funds from the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund are as follows:

• Chilliwack - Fab Tech Design and Build Ltd. manufactures custom prefabricated wall packages for the residential construction industry. It will receive as much as $431,000 to support upgrading its facility and purchasing advanced equipment. These improvements will expand prefabricated production lines to include wood panel walls, stairs and floor systems, and double its overall production capacity, helping to reduce turnaround time for multiple-family housing and other construction projects. The project will create 20 jobs.
• Mission - Valley Acrylic Bath Ltd. is a plumbing fixtures manufacturer. It is receiving as much as $50,000 to complete business and engineering planning prior to the renovation and expansion of its factory to include the addition of new robotic production lines that will triple production capacity.

Clean and Competitive: A Blueprint for B.C.'s Industrial Future lays out the Province's work to drive new investment, create new jobs and seize new opportunities in growing clean-energy and sustainable industries. Supporting local manufacturing sectors helps leverage B.C.'s strengths to create good jobs and opportunities in every community and will improve the quality of life for people, while strengthening B.C.'s diverse economy.

Quick Facts:

• The BCMJF has committed as much as $115.7 million toward 103 projects, representing $941 million in total capital investment in B.C.
• Every $1 million invested results in $7 million in total direct capital investments in B.C., $590,000 in tax revenue to the Province and $5.3 million in provincial gross domestic product (GDP).
• Funded projects will create more than 1,500 jobs and protect more than 2,300 jobs at risk.

Learn More:

To learn about the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, including a list of recipients and updated application deadline information, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/economic-development/support-organizations-community-partners/rural-economic-development/manufacturing-jobs-fund

To learn more about Clean and Competitive: A Blueprint for B.C.'s Industrial Future, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/Clean_and_Competitive.pdf

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