Buy BC Partnership Program

The Buy BC Program is designed to assist the agriculture, agrifood and seafood sectors with implementing eligible projects in British Columbia only. All applicants must have a head office, or be registered in BC.

Processed Food and Beverages (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.)

Primary Agriculture Products (including fruits, vegetables, grains, oilseeds, floriculture, nursery, sod, honey, ginseng, animal feed, hay, cattle, hogs, poultry and other livestock, etc.)

Note: Statistics Canada defines “Other Livestock” as sheep, horses, ponies, goats, llamas, alpacas, rabbits, bison, elk, farmed deer, wild boars, mink breeding stock, fox, donkeys, mules, chinchillas, wool, and embryos, other poultry (e.g., geese, ducks, roosters, ostriches, game birds, emus, pheasants, quail and pigeons), beeswax, bee pollen, queen bees and nucleus bee colonies.

Yes, on the condition these activities meet the program’s objectives of:

• Increasing use of British Columbia’s agriculture, food and seafood sectors in the domestic marketplace; and
• Building consumer preference, demand and sales for BC agrifoods sold within the province.

In-kind contributions can be included as part of the budget, but they are not eligible for matching funding.

In order to be approved for cost-shared funding, the applicant’s project activities must meet specific criteria and purposes, which include but may not be limited to the following:

The scope of the Buy BC program is to support projects that increase local consumer demand and sales of BC agrifoods. The following types of project activities are NOT eligible for funding under this program:

• Social media such as Facebook and Twitter as stand-alone activities are not eligible, using social media to promote Buy BC is an eligible activity;
• Awareness building activities with the exception of “new” products introduced to the domestic market;
• Repeat activities. All proposed activities must be new to the applicant (i.e. if the applicant has previous advertised in ‘X publication’, activity to advertise in ‘X publication’ again would be ineligible;
• Domestic market research;
• Marketing plans;
• Subsequent Packaging. Design, tool & die, and printing production costs for a first run of packaging materials are eligible.
• Educational events (e.g., producer workshop);
• Buying, starting or expanding a farm or business;
• Purchasing capital expenses (e.g., land, buildings, fences, equipment, tradeshow booth hardware, computers, mobile phones, tools, packaging plate costs, seed, livestock);
• Basic research (experimental or theoretical work which is undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge without a commercial or specific application in view);
• Requesting funds to support or sponsor a third-party activity are ineligible;
• Any costs related to providing product samples at a reduced cost or free are treated as in-kind;
• Promotional products/materials planned for re-sale, contests or gifts (Honoria are considered gifts);
• Direct income support;
• Lobbying or influencing any level of government;
• The normal operations of a business or organization (i.e., creating a strategic plan; hiring staff, holding a conference or annual meeting, education or training) which are not intended to address the objectives of this program;
• Website/IT systems upgrades. Only the cost for adding specific ‘Buy BC’ elements (i.e. landing page or branding) are eligible for cost-share;
• Building and implementing an e-commerce tool/site is not eligible;
• Any activities that may be considered to denigrate other products, commodities or regions (e.g., farmed vs. wild salmon; organic vs. conventional agriculture); and
• Membership fees.
• Cannabis-related marketing or promotional activities.

Projects where the intended target audience is non-English speaking may qualify for cost-sharing on certified translation services for approved promotional materials. An estimate from a certified translation service should be included with your application. The maximum cost-share for translation services is $5,000.

Note:  A copy of the English and translated materials may be requested and must be available upon request.

Measures of activities such as dollar value of increased sales, volume of increased sales, number of new sales agreements signed, number of marketing materials and advertising and promotional activities completed, number of new product listings and new partnerships, new jobs, number of website visits, new economic activity, number of website visits and social media traffic, number of participants at a special event and media coverage.  It’s best to develop a plan upfront and track these results for final reporting purposes. A complete list is outlined on the Buy BC Part B application form.

All projects must be completed and the final report submitted within 12 months of the date of project approval or before the close of the Buy BC Partnership Program, whichever comes first.

To apply to the Buy BC cost-shared program you will first have to complete an Eligibility confirmation form (Part A of your application).  Once completed the Ministry of Agriculture will determine your eligibility for the program and you will be notified.  Based on your eligibility you will be supplied with a Project Application form (Part B) which will need to be completed and submitted to IAF.  Please note in order to participate in the cost shared program you will also need to complete a Buy BC licensing application to be certified to use the Buy BC logo.

No, a requirement of the Buy BC cost-shared program is that applicants must have a Buy BC logo licensing agreement in place.

No, once you are eligibility has been confirmed (Part A) you will not have to reapply.  The only time you may be asked to reapply would be if your business changes ownership or your organization goes thought significant personnel changes.  Similarly, once you are certified to use the Buy BC logos that certification does not expire during the life of the Buy BC program.

Yes, please refer to the program page.

Clients can usually anticipate a decision within 20 business days for complete applications, from the application deadline date.

In order to be eligible for cost-share, all funding acknowledgement guidelines must be adhered to. The onus is on the applicant/client to ensure they have met the guidelines and have their communication products and media reviewed and approved by the IAF prior to publishing.   Communication products that are not approved will not qualify for cost-share funding.

The BC government will work with each successful applicant to announce their project as they are approved.

Recipients will not make a public announcement concerning the project funding without the prior consent of the BC Ministry of Agriculture.

It is expected that applicants prepare and submit their own applications.  Applicants are responsible for delivery of their project.

An application submitted by a consultant on behalf of a client will result in the application being rejected.  Consultant costs for the preparation of an application are not a program eligible component.

IAF encourages all potential clients for the Buy BC Program to contact IAF directly at buybc(at)iafbc.ca