[This page will be updated when new information and programs are available. The primary audience for this Economic Resiliency Resource Portal is Smithers residents and businesses affected by the mill closures in Northern BC. Last modified February 13, 2024]
The Town of Smithers acknowledges the challenges communities and the region face due to mill closures in Fraser Lake, and the temporary closure of Canfor’s Houston Mill. The Town of Smithers will provide support where possible.
- West Fraser Pacific Inland Resources - Job Opportunities
- Smithers WorkBC Centre - Job Opportunities
- Wage Subsidy Programs
- Kopar Administration Ltd
- WorkBC – is a full-service all encompassing employment program for people that are unemployed or at risk of losing their jobs and are legally entitled to work in Canada and not full-time students. Provides many services, including wage subsidy, occupational skills training, job search skill development, access to technology, disability supports, assessments, short-term certificate training, direct marketing to employers, and more. Provides outreach services to Houston. Job seekers need to apply for services via https://apply.workbc.ca
- Work Keys – offers a workplace-based training fund to employers for providing 4 weeks of work experience, is a program for unemployed or underemployed people that are displaced forestry workers or have other barriers to employment.
- Skills Highway – offers a workplace-based training fund to employers for providing 4 weeks of work experience, is a program for unemployed or underemployed people that are displaced forestry workers or have other barriers to employment.
- Skills Quest – provides a wage subsidy to employers, is a program for persons with a self-disclosed disability.
- Net-Work Connections – provides clients with technology and training on how to use the technology, and career exploration, is a program for persons with a self-disclosed disability.
- Trade Abilities – provides clients with training and career exploration in the trades, is a program for persons with a self-disclosed disability.
- Keys BC – provides a wage subsidy to employers, is a program for Youth ages 16-30.
- My Community Futures
- My Community Fturues is a membership platform providing professional support to businesses, not-for-profits and individuals exploring entrepreneurship throughout British Columbia. Membership includes valuable resources, training opportunities and one-on-one professional support through your local Community Futures office.
- Community Futures Nadina Business Planning
- Whether you are a start-up or looking to expand, Community Futures can provide business advice and training at any level.
- Futurpreneur Canada
- Futurpreneur provides financing, mentoring and support tools to aspiring business owners aged 18-39.
- B.C.’s Venture Capital Tax Credit Program
- B.C.’s Venture Capital Tax Credit program helps small businesses raise capital by providing investors with a 30% tax credit on the value of their investment.
- Build Your Own Future
- This is a government-funded business startup program for technicians and tradespeople affected by BC mill closures and curtailments. The program is free for eligible participants.
- WeBC
- BC’s leading resource for women entrepreneurs through business resources, financing and mentorship.
- My Community Futures
- WorkBC Community Workforce Response Grant
- The Community Workforce Response Grant program provides approximately $10 million a year in funding for communities and sectors to support short-term skills training. This training must lead to sustainable employment for British Columbians who are training-ready and seeking to re-enter the labour force or to change their employment status.
- Silviculture Innovation Program
- The new Silviculture Innovation Program will support new research and innovative practices that better address forest resiliency, ecosystem health and climate adaptation. This program is expected to be up and running in fall 2023 and managed by the Bulkley Valley Centre for Natural Resources Research and Management in Smithers.
- BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund
- MJF will invest up to $180 million in manufacturing projects to support high-value industrial and manufacturing projects to drive clean and inclusive growth in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. The program will begin accepting proposals on February 28, 2023 and will remain open to proposals for up to two years, or until all funds are allocated.
- BC Employer Training Grant
- This grant provides funding to small, medium and large enterprises to support skills training for their workforce, including perspective new hires. Employers can apply as often as they need and receive 80% of the cost of training up to $10,000 per employee, with a maximum annual amount per employer of $300,000,
- NDIT Competitiveness Consulting Rebate Program
- The Competitiveness Consulting Rebate program provides a rebate to small and medium-sized businesses in eligible industries for customized consulting services. A rebate of up to 50% to a yearly maximum of $30,000 can be recovered for the cost of external business consulting projects. Projects must focus on increased resiliency, productivity, revenues, profitability and/or job creation.
- NDIT Small Business Recovery (SBR) Consulting Rebate Program
- This program is designed to help businesses reduce the barrier to accessing professional expertise and recover the costs of third-party consulting projects. These types of projects must focus on ways to sustain business operations and recover business health and profitability to pre-event levels. The SBR Consulting Rebate will reimburse small and medium-sized businesses (operators) for contracted consulting services.
- NDIT Northern Industries Innovation Fund (NIIF) Program
- The Northern Industries Innovation Fund (NIIF) program provides incremental funding to support innovation projects that increase the competitiveness of local businesses in traditional industries across Northern B.C. The program is also intended to support economic diversification and/or viability of businesses to mitigate the economic impact of the pine beetle epidemic. NIIF supports applied research and development, new or improved products and services, and testing of innovative equipment or technologies to support capital investment decisions.
- Community Futures Nadina Business Loans
- Whether your business is in the start-up phase or in a position of expansion, Community Futures gives businesses access to small business loans when traditional financial institutions are unable to help.
- WorkBC Community Workforce Response Grant
- Now more than ever is critical that our local residents support our local businesses. There may be less disposable income for shopping coming into the community as families across the region watch their spending closer. Supporting our local businesses is a great way to ensure our local businesses stay local, are able to provide local employment opportunities and spend their revenue locally as well.
- LOCO BC is a great BC organization that supports shop local initiatives in various communities across the province.