Government of Canada supports British Columbia’s clean technology sector

Minister Melanie Joly announces $2.2 million in federal funding to help some of BC’s most innovative companies grow, create jobs and recover from the impact of COVID-19

September 16, 2020 – Victoria, British Columbia – Western Economic Diversification Canada

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating impact on businesses across British Columbia, and those whose livelihoods rely on them. As BC’s economy recovers from the impact of COVID-19, the clean tech sector and other innovative businesses will play a major role in in helping it come back strong and support growth across the province.

A global leader in the clean tech, BC’s clean tech sector supports 16,300 jobs at over 290 companies in communities across the province. The sector continues to grow and prosper, with revenues climbing from $1.8 billion in 2016 to $2.4 billion in 2019. As it recovers from the impact of COVID-19, the Government of Canada is a partner in helping the industry recover, reopen and retool to emerge stronger than before.

Support for innovative businesses across BC

Today, the Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for Western Economic Diversification Canada, announced $2.2 million in federal funding to help innovative small businesses in BC’s clean tech sector and beyond grow and create jobs.

This investment will support seven innovative organizations across the province, most notably the Alacrity Foundation of BC – a leading not-for-profit with a mandate to strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship in BC. This funding will create 100 new, well-paying jobs through the British Columbia Clean Tech Market Development Initiative, which will assist small businesses across Western Canada, both in the immediate term and as they scale-up in the years to come.

Today’s announcement is further proof of the Government of Canada’s commitment to supporting workers and businesses in British Columbia, and the innovative companies that provide good jobs in communities across the province. The federal funding announced today will go towards the following organizations:

• The Alacrity Foundation of BC: $1,334,425 to assist western Canadian clean tech companies scale-up through increased international sales and investment during the pandemic recovery phase;
• The Discovery Foundation: $95,000 to deliver targeted business resilience support to participating small communities across BC;
• The BC Chamber of Commerce: $500,000 to deliver business resiliency and recovery training to SMEs across BC;
• The Surrey Board of Trade: $50,000 to support the Surrey COVID-19 Pandemic Business Centre in delivering business economic recovery initiatives;
• The Burnaby Board of Trade: $25,000 to deliver its Business Digital Development Assistance Program to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic;
• The Greater Vancouver Board of Trade: $100,000 to develop and deliver virtual events to help business adapt their activities to new markets; and,
• South Island Prosperity Partnership: $100,000 to launch a Rising Economy Task Force to coordinate a region-wide response to the COVID-19 pandemic.