B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program Stream 2: Business planning, preparedness, and disaster recovery
$22,500
Grant
Description:
B.C.’s Agri-Business Planning Program provides funding support for primary agricultural producers and agriculture, food and beverage processors to support informed decision making and ensure business development.
Comments on Funding:
Funding up to $7,500 for individual business or up to $22,500 for groups
Applications are closed. Stay tuned for future intake announcements.
Eligibility:
Applicants must:
1. Be either a:
a. Primary agriculture producer
i. Growing or raising fresh food or agricultural products which are 100 percent grown or raised in British Columbia and are intended for sale.
OR
b. Agriculture, food and beverage processor
i. Processing food, beverage, or agricultural products which are processed and packaged in B.C. with 51 percent or more of the direct cost of producing the product in its final form, for example, the sum of raw materials, direct labour, variable processing, and packaging originating in B.C. When the main raw materials are available in sufficient quantities from B.C. producers, they must be used
2. Farm or processing business must;
a. Be a B.C. registered business taxable entity for example, sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, or other associations of persons or trust, with a GST and business number
b. File income tax under the Income Tax Act in British Columbia
c. Report total annual gross revenues greater than $50,000 in the previous year to Canada Revenue Agency
3. Residents of British Columbia
4. Disclose any funding received/are receiving from any other B.C Ministry of Agriculture and Food Program(s) or any other Province of B.C. program(s) during the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable- CAP) Agreement
Application Steps:
Applicants must:
1. Select and Confirm Availability of a Qualified Business Consultant.
2. complete and submit the online Application Form through the Ministry’s Program Operation Data System (PODS) Portal .
3. : B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food Staff review the application and Letter of Engagement for Services. Only fully completed applications will be reviewed on a first come, first served basis. Applications that do not meet the Program Eligibility criteria will not be accepted.
4. Approved applicants will receive a ABPP Approval Letter confirming the approval of their application and Project.
5. The Project is completed as outlined in the Letter of Engagement for Services.
a. It is the Applicant’s responsibility to review the deliverables from the Consultant and ensure that the work was completed as per the Letter of Engagement for Services.
6. Applicant submits Final Documents for review and reimbursement via the Ministry’s Program Operation Data System (PODS) Portal within 30 days of Project completion, and/or no later than March 15, 2025.
7. : B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food reviews final documents and upon approval reimburses the Applicant for approved eligible costs.
Documentation Needed:
Other Things to Note:
Applicants must submit:
1. business consultant chosen by name, contact information and business registration number
a. Completed and signed Letter of Engagement for Services Letter of Engagement for Services (Fillable Form) (DOCX, 284KB)from the consultant with the scope of work, timelines, and total project costs outlined. The Letter of Engagement for Services must indicate that the
project will be completed on or before February 15, 2025.
b. Consultant’s Resume
c. Supporting Consultant(s) resume(s) if applicable
e. Direct Deposit Application Form (PDF, 407KB)
f. Copy of a void cheque
g. Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Summary/Proof of Gross Income as
last reported to the CRA
2. Project summary describing the problem or issue the Project will address (description of the Project; challenges and issues; opportunities and benefits; expected outcome that would clearly demonstrate increased benefits to the farming or processing business). Project summary should
demonstrate how the Project relates to one or more of the Eligible Business Planning Specialization Areas listed on page 8 and Appendix B of this program guide.
3. A copy of the completed Meeting and Services Provision Log (Fillable Form) (DOCX, 270KB)
4. A copy of the Consultant’s Final Report/Business Plan as per the guidelines in Appendix B of this program guide.
5. A copy of the Consultant’s invoice including a summary of the services provided, breakdown of the Consultant’s fees including travel, GST, and the total amount invoiced.
a. If travel costs are included the receipts for travel must be included with the Consultant’s invoice.
6. Proof of payment of the Consultant’s invoice in the form of a receipt of payment from the Consultant, a cancelled cheque with invoice, or credit card transaction record with invoice as proof of payment.
7. Proof of payment may be in the form of a paid company invoice, cancelled cheque or credit card transaction as evidence of payment. Proof of payment must be under the legal name on your application.
8. A completed Program evaluation survey:
https://submit.digital.gov.bc.ca/app/form/submit?f=2a8ce899-21ef-4305-
a01b-93e6d579880a
About the author
Maurice
