Buy BC Cost-Shared Funding

IAF will not be delivering the Buy BC Partnership Program in 2023/24. For program details and updates, visit the Government of BC’s Buy BC website

The information below pertains to the 2022/23 program:

Buy BC Cost-Shared Funding is available for activities that increase the demand for, and sales of, BC agri-food and seafood products within the Province.

The Buy BC Partnership Program, delivered by IAF on behalf of the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food, has two components: licensing and cost-shared funding. It is designed to increase the competitiveness of BC’s agri-food and seafood industry in the domestic market by supporting local marketing efforts through use of the Buy BC brand.

The Buy BC Partnership Program aims to achieve the following outcomes:

Enable industry to undertake sector or product-specific Buy BC marketing activities to increase local market share, product sales, and consumer awareness;
Ensure consumers can easily identify BC agri-food and seafood products at the point of sale;
Build and maintain Buy BC brand recognition; and
Build a greater awareness of and demand for, local food and beverage products across the province.

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Program Overview

Eligible Applicants

Eligible Activities

Timeline

Application

Program Overview

Once an applicant has been approved for a Buy BC logo license, select applicants can apply for cost-shared funding to help them undertake sector or product specific Buy BC marketing and promotional activities across the province. All organizations need to register themselves through IAF’s new online application portal and complete an eligibility screening before gaining access to the program application form.

Logo License

Applicants must have a valid Logo License prior to applying

Register

First time using IAF’s online portal? You need to register.

Check Eligibility

Complete Eligibility screening through the online portal

Complete Application

Complete and submit a funding application via the online portal.

Eligible Applicants

To be considered eligible for the cost-shared funding component of the Buy BC Partnership Program, applicants must:

have been approved for a Buy BC logo license (Can’t find your Logo License number? Contact licensing@iafbc.ca);
sell or market a product grown or processed in BC*
be able to provide a minimum percentage of the total project budget in cash as follows:
- 50% for producers, processors, cooperatives, agriculture fairs and farmers’ markets
- 30% for industry associations, boards, or councils;
have greater than $30,000 in annual gross revenue for the past two years (applicable only for producers, processors and cooperatives).
NEW: applicants must register their organization through IAF’s online portal and be approved to apply for Buy BC cost-shared funding.

NOTE: If you are exclusively a Retailer, Wholesaler, or Distributor, you are NOT eligible for cost-shared funding, but can apply for a Buy BC Logo License. See Buy BC Partnership Program for more details.
*Product(s) must be approved & listed under your Buy BC Logo License.

Eligible Activities & Expenses

For a project to be funded under the Buy BC Partnership Program, an application must include one or more of the following activities and expenditures. All project activities must be completed and fully paid for between April 1, 2022, and February 24, 2023, or according to project completion dates outlined in your funding contract. Project expenses are paid for upfront by the funding recipient and reimbursed by IAF following the submission of a financial (claim) report according to the approved cost-share percentage. More information on this can be found below.

Note: translation and interpretation fees to target the following activities to non-English speaking audiences in BC are considered eligible expenses.

Labelling / Packaging

Labelling Products and/or Packaging Products with a Buy BC Logo

Designing/redesigning product labels/packaging labels/packaging to incorporate the Buy BC logo
Printing product labels/packaging which incorporates the Buy BC logo
A maximum of $20,000 per applicant

Marketing Materials

Marketing Collateral and Promotional Materials

Designing, developing, and printing/producing Buy BC-branded materials and promotional tools
Translating Buy BC-branded media materials through a certified translation service to target a non-English speaking audience within BC
A maximum of $5,000 per applicant, for branded apparel to be worn by staff working out reach events

Tradeshows / Fairs

BC-Focused Market Development Tradeshows and Fairs

Participating in virtual or in-person tradeshows, food fairs, and/or sales expositions in BC that target consumers and/or food service/ institutional/retail buyers
Includes securing booth space, designing/printing Buy BC-branded booth graphics and shipping Buy BC-branded marketing collateral to the event designing/printing

In-Store Demos / Promos

BC-Focused In-Store Demonstrations and Promotions

Hiring brand ambassador contractors to carry out in-store retail/product demonstrations and tastings
Conducting in-store retail/restaurant /food-service promotions within BC
Hiring a Certified interpreter for a specific event/activity to target a non-English speaking audience within BC

Print / Broadcast Ads

Buy BC-Branded Print and Broadcast Advertising

Developing and producing Buy BC-branded broadcast and print advertising campaigns
Includes hiring graphic designers, photographers, advertising agencies, and/or other related contractors to develop and/or print Buy BC-branded newspaper, magazine, newsletter, transit, vehicle, and/or billboard ads; developing media plans; purchasing advertising space

Online Ads / Social Media

Online Advertising and Social Media

Developing, producing, and delivering Buy BC-branded online advertising campaigns
Adding a Buy BC presence to an existing or new website
Using social media to promote a Buy BC logo licensed product
Developing media plans
Purchasing advertising space
A maximum of $15,000 per applicant

Maximum Funding for Eligible Expenses

After completing an eligibility screening through IAF’s online portal, applicants will be notified how much funding they can apply for under the program.

NEW! In addition to the overall funding cap for each applicant, several Activity Categories will be capped for the 2022-23 funding cycle. These figures relate to program contributions (cost-shared funding), not overall activity costs.

Staff wages: maximum of $2,000 for each producer/processor/cooperative applicant; maximum of $10,000 for associations for wages related to direct implementation of project activities
Marketing collateral and promotional materials: maximum of $5,000 per applicant, for branded apparel to be worn by staff working out reach events
Product labelling/packaging: maximum of $20,000 per applicant
Online advertising costs (including social media): maximum of $15,000 per applicant

Ineligible Activities and Expenses

The following activities and costs are not eligible under the Buy BC Partnership Program:

Ineligible Activities

Any cost not set out as an eligible cost and expenditure in the Activity Category description
Any cost not specifically required for the execution of a project
Expenses over the maximum funding caps
Leases or agreements with suppliers or service providers outside the project period (starting
April 1, 2022)
Activities that take place before* the project start date or after the project completion date (*pre-registration for farmer’s markets and/or tradeshow registration are considered eligible).
Market research, including experimental or theoretical work which is undertaken to acquire new knowledge without a commercial or specific application in view
Development of marketing or business plans
Product or new brand development
Subsequent Packaging Design, tool & dye, and printing production costs (only the first run of packaging materials is considered eligible)
Capital or equipment purchases (e.g., land, buildings, fences, equipment, tradeshow booth hardware, computers, software subscriptions, mobile phones, tools, printing plates, seed, livestock)
Normal operating costs associated with carrying out or expanding a business’ current operations (including office supplies)
Direct income support
Buying, starting, or expanding a farm or business
Website/IT system upgrades and hosting fees. Only the cost for adding specific ‘Buy BC’ elements to a website is eligible for cost-share
Building and implementing an e-Commerce tool or website
Cost of product for sampling or sale, including product discounts, coupons or subsidies
Retail or food services listing fees
Cost of travel (mileage), food and accommodation
Funds to sponsor a third-party activity
Promotional products/materials planned for re-sale, SWAG, contests or gifts
Stakeholder engagement or membership drives
Membership fees
Lobbying or influencing government
Any activities that may be considered to denigrate other products or commodities (e.g., farmed vs. wild salmon; organic vs. conventional agriculture, etc.)
In-kind contributions
Cannabis-related activities

Program Timeline

Notifications & Obligations

Funding Notifications and Contracts

Funding is awarded on a competitive basis and the budget is limited. Only a limited number of projects will be approved. Complete applications submitted by the deadline will be scored against the program evaluation criteria and adjudicated by the Technical Review Committee in February 2022.

If an application is approved, IAF will inform the applicant of the details of the decision and any associated terms and conditions via email. The applicant will then enter into a Contribution Agreement with IAF which outlines the obligations of each party for the approved project which will commence April 1, 2022.

If an application is not approved, the applicant will receive a written response from IAF via email with reasons for the decision.

Funding Acknowledgements

All marketing and communications materials produced as part of your project require approval from IAF to ensure program funding has been acknowledged appropriately. Communications materials that you must submit to IAF (communications(at)iafbc.ca) for approval before production include:

Labels and packaging materials
Print ads
Radio ads
Television ads
Paper ads for mailing
Digital ads (email, search engine marketing, social media, videos etc.)
Print collateral such as brochures, rack cards, and flat sheets
Website updates

If a program client does not submit their communications materials to IAF for approval before they are produced/distributed, they run the risk of that item not being eligible for reimbursement.

Reporting Requirements

Funding recipients are required to complete a two-part project activity report and financial reporting as part of their funding agreement for this Program. Completion of Part One of project activity reporting must be completed before successful applicants receive a Contribution Agreement. Once the Contribution Agreement (funding contract) is fully executed, a funding recipient will be sent a financial reporting template in advance of the project start date: April 1, 2022. This template must be filled out and submitted to IAF with copies of all paid invoices/receipts to receive a funding reimbursement. Only eligible activities and expenditures approved in your project budget will be considered for cost-sharing under the program.

Project-specific reporting deadlines will be outlined in each program participant’s Contribution Agreement. All project reports must be submitted on time and with the required information.

Expenses will be reimbursed based on confirmation of eligibility, invoices/receipts submitted, the approved project budget, and cost-share ratio which will be outlined in the Contribution Agreement.

Changes to Contracted Projects

Projects are approved by the IAF Board based on the stated objectives, the scope of activities, and the applicant’s capacity to carry out the work. Once a contract for the project has been established and fully executed, we are not able to make repeated adjustments to the approved budget or set of activities.

Each project is allowed one opportunity to make a project change due to extenuating circumstances such as a cancelled event or natural disaster. A change in the company’s marketing strategy or operations does not constitute a valid reason for adjusting an approved project budget. Clients will forfeit any funding tied to activities that they are unable to complete in the stated timeframe.

Any changes to projects under contract will need to be approved in writing by IAF before they are made. Activities undertaken that have not been pre-approved are not eligible for funding.