B.C awards $2.2 million funding to promote Wood First activities

VANCOUVER (Scrap Monster): The B.C government has announced funding of $2.2 million in the Wood First program. The money will be distributed to six industry trade associations and institutions in the region and will be used to promote wood uses locally as well as internationally. The funds will be utilized towards development and marketing of value-added wood products. In addition, the funds will be used to promote skills training activities and awareness about wood building structures.

Out of the total $2.2 million funding, $770,109 goes to the Canadian Wood Council. The other recipients of the funds are BC Wood Specialties Group ($558,910), FPInnovations ($428,928), University of British Columbia – Centre for Advanced Wood Processing ($359,166), University of British Columbia – Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability ($65,000) and Design Build Research Institute ($51,762). The industry will supplement the provincial funding with additional funds, sources indicated.

According to Teresa Wat, Minister of International Trade, the new investment will provide huge support to organizations in their attempts to come out with innovative wood products for domestic and international markets. The funding will help the province to boost its wood trade with key markets including Asia and the US. Furthermore, the funding will enable the innovative wood products manufacturers in the province to compete in global markets, Teresa Wat added.

The Wood First program aims to advance the use of wood building systems and technologies, and raise awareness of the province as a world leader in advanced wood construction and design. The strategic objectives for Wood First are to grow a culture of living and building with wood in B.C. and beyond, maximize the appropriate use of wood in public and private projects, strengthen B.C.’s capability to produce competitive wood-based products and building systems, accelerate adoption of existing and emerging wood-based products and building systems and position B.C. as a world leader in sustainable and innovative wood-based products and building systems in design, production and application.