$7M in funding announced for Okanagan Falls mass timber mill

A mass timber shaper successful nan South Okanagan received millions of dollars aimed expanding nan installation and creating much jobs.

Mercer Mass Timber, which purchased Penticton-based wide timber shaper Structurlam past year, will person $7 cardinal done B.C.’s Manufacturing Jobs Fund (BCMJF).

“BCMJF backing will support nan acquisition of caller precocious manufacturing instrumentality and completion of mill upgrades that will modernize nan facilities, amended accumulation efficiencies, and standard manufacturing of a wider assortment of mass-timber products,” a property merchandise states.

Mercer purchased nan installation pursuing Structurlam’s bankruptcy. At that time, galore labor were laid disconnected erstwhile Structurlam closed.

The caller costs will besides spell towards rehiring labor who were laid off, supporting 28 section jobs.

“This support enables america to create jobs and boost nan section system while solidifying B.C.’s position arsenic a world leader successful nan mass-timber industry,” said Brian Merwin, elder vice-president pinch Mercer Mass Timber.

“Mercer Mass Timber is wished to lead nan measurement successful sustainable wide timber and this business importantly strengthens our expertise to do so. We’re excited for what’s to travel and really we tin each make a affirmative quality wrong nan industry.”

The BCMJF is portion of a bid of programs that nan state has introduced to support sustainability successful B.C.’s forestry sector.

To date, 72 per cent of BCMJF projects attraction connected forest-sector modulation to high-value products, creating and protecting much than 2,500 forest-sector jobs.

As good as, 1 successful 5 wood-product producers successful B.C. are said to person applied to nan program.

“We’re proud that Mercer Mass Timber’s office are located correct present successful B.C., and that their manufacturing footprint will beryllium importantly expanded successful nan Okanagan,” said Brenda Bailey, Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Minister.

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“Supporting innovative manufacturing projects helps unafraid good, section jobs and reinforces B.C. arsenic a world leader successful nan accumulation and usage of wide timber.”

The backing comes arsenic galore different awesome projects are underway successful Okanagan Falls to respire caller life into nan community.

“If corporations for illustration this proceed to grow, our organization tin deliberation of a affirmative future. And that’s what we really spot pinch this,” said Matthew Taylor, Regional District Area D head for Okanagan Falls and Skaha East.

“And betwixt Mercer present and nan business improvement parkland that’s opening up shortly, I spot a existent economical motor that’s going to foster maturation successful economical controls for astir apt decades to come.”

As portion of nan announcement, section officials sewage nan opportunity to circuit some Mercer accommodation successful Okanagan Falls connected Wednesday.

“Okanagan Falls is really astatine nan forefront, I think, a bully illustration of agrarian economical improvement and partnerships for illustration this betwixt nan provincial authorities and Mercer to build retired their facility. We put a bunch of caller jobs connected nan crushed and organization —  really breathtaking stuff,” said Boundary-Similkameen MLA Roly Russell.