Local farmers can access between $5,000 - $75,000 for marketing efforts to increase consumer demand and sales of their products.
B.C.'s Buy Local program, administered by Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF), aims to support food security in B.C. and help local farming operations grow and thrive in the competitive agrifood market.
These dollars are meant to keep families in farming by helping them to stand out in a competitive market and continue to do what they love while strengthening ties with the community.
Eligible food, bev's
Any food or drink produced, processed and packaged entirely in BC. Any product made entirely from ingredients sourced in BC or composed of more than 85% of their main ingredients from BC.
Including: seafood, baked goods, chocolate and confectionery, sauces, seasonings, cereal preparations, soups, condiments, snack foods, dairy products, eggs, meat products, fruit and vegetable products, natural health products, pet food, fruit juice, wine, beer, cider, spirits, bottled water, etc.
Eligible products
Agricultural products - fruits, vegetables, grains, oilseeds, floriculture, nursery, sod, honey, ginseng, animal feed, hay, cattle, hogs, poultry and other livestock such as sheep, horses, ponies, goats, llamas, alpacas, rabbits, bison, elk, farmed deer, wild boars, mink breeding stock, fox, donkeys, mules, chinchillas, wool, poultry, geese, ducks, roosters, ostriches, game birds, emus, pheasants, quail and pigeons, beeswax, bee pollen, queen bees and nucleus bee colonies.
Eligible activities
NEW activities that the applicant hasn't done before. E.g.: Media advertising (radio, TV, print); In-store promotions and advertising (signage, recipes, in-store demonstrations, consumer contests, flyer advertising); Adding your buy local identifier to on-product labelling; Social media or web campaigns (Buy Local specific landing page); Trade shows and events; Branding and public relations activities.
Ineligible
Must demonstrate that activities will increase consumption of products and generate increased revenue. The following are not eligible: Domestic market research; Marketing plans; Educational events (e.g., producer workshops).
Applicants
Associations; Cooperatives; Marketing boards; Aboriginal groups; Non-profit organizations; For-profit organizations; Individual firms (incl. food processors); All applicants must have a head office or be registered in BC.
Matching $
Applicants must contribute 50% in cash of the total project budget. Funding requested must be no more than 30% of annual revenue.
Next application deadlines not yet annouced but are expected in two rounds - possibly April and July 2017.
More information and applications available at: http://iafbc.ca/funding-opportunities/buy-local/