B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable-CAP)

Last updated on February 23, 2024

The current application intake is now closed.

The funding maximum has been reached and we are unable to accept new applications.

The next application intake is expected to open later in 2024.  

Please visit the program page for announcements.

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Program overview

The B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program (ABPP) provides funding support for primary agricultural producers and agriculture, food & beverage processors to support informed decision making and ensure business development.

Funding is available under two streams:

  1. Agri-Business Skills and Leadership Development 
  2. Business Planning, Preparedness, and Disaster Recovery
     
 

Program funding

Program applications will be accepted until 4:30pm on February 15, 2024, or until the Program funding is fully allocated for fiscal year 2023/24.

Funding is provided through a reimbursement process to approved applicants.

 
Program stream Program funding amounts
Stream 1: Agri-Business Skills and Leadership Development Up to 70% to a maximum contribution of $2,000 
Stream 2:  Business Planning, Preparedness, and Disaster Recovery 

Up to $7,500 for individual business 

Up to $22,500 for groups 

*Minimum reimbursement of $500.00 

* Stream 2 is eligible for an interim payment

 

Program eligibility

To be eligible for the Program, applicants must meet all the following eligibility requirements1:

  1. Must be a either a
    • Primary agriculture producer
      • growing or raising fresh food or agricultural products which are 100% grown or raised in British Columbia and are intended for sale2.

OR

  • Agriculture, Food and Beverage Processor
    • processing food, beverage, or agricultural products which are processed and packaged in B.C. with 51% or more of the direct cost of producing the product in its final form (i.e., the sum of raw materials, direct labour, variable processing, and packaging) originating in B.C. When the main raw materials are available in sufficient quantities from B.C. producers, they must be used
  1. Farm or processing business must 
    • Be a B.C. registered business taxable entity (e.g., sole proprietor, partnership, corporation, or other associations of persons or trust) with a GST and business number
    • File income tax under the Income Tax Act in British Columbia
    • Report total annual gross revenues greater than $50,000 in the previous year to Canada Revenue Agency
  2. All proprietors, partners, members, or shareholders must be residents of British Columbia.   
  3. Disclose any funding received/are receiving from any other B.C Ministry of Agriculture and Food Program(s) or any other B.C. Government Program(s) during the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable- CAP) Agreement

Additional documentation may be required to demonstrate eligibility.

For primary producers engaged in commercial agriculture production annual gross farm income is defined as income from sales of farm commodities including production insurance, crop and livestock sales including licensed cannabis production, and value-added farm products; but does not include income from custom work, (providing services to a person engaged in farming activities, i.e., providing landscaping) riding lessons, boarding horses, land and facilities rent, aquaculture, raising of pets, agri-tourism income, sales of forestry products and some agro-forestry products, government program payments, or any other non-commodity income.

 

Indigenous applicants

The province is committed to supporting the success of Indigenous businesses in the agriculture and food sector. We understand that Indigenous businesses may have distinct characteristics reflecting regulatory, operational, cultural, and other factors.  We aim for flexibility in our program delivery to reduce barriers and ensure the accessibility of our programs.

Indigenous applicants are encouraged to reach out to Program staff with any questions.

 

Program timeline

Program applications will be accepted until 4:30pm on February 15, 2024, or until the Program funding is fully allocated for fiscal year 2023/24.

  • For Stream 1:
    • Applicants must have registered and paid for their learning and specialized training by March 15, 2024.
    • Final Documents for reimbursement must be submitted within 30 days of training registration.
  • For Stream 2:
    • All projects must be within 90 days of initiation date.
    • All Final Documents for reimbursement must be submitted within 30 days of project completion.
 

Program contact

If you are interested in applying to the program but have questions about the application process or eligibility criteria, please contact program staff at Agribusiness@gov.bc.ca or call AgriSerivce at 1-888-221-7141.

 

Stream 1: Agri-business skills and leadership development

Goal: To support access to specialized training for business owners and key managers resulting in improved business management knowledge, adoption of practices and benefit(s) to the business. 

Funding Amount: reimbursement of up to 70% of eligible costs as outlined in your Learning Action Plan (Fillable Form) (DOCX, 968 KB).

  • Minimum reimbursement of $500.00 to a maximum reimbursement of $2,000 per fiscal year.  
  • For example: Cost of eligible specialized training(s) of $715.00 @ 70% = $500 funding provided  

Stream 1 is NOT eligible for an interim payment. 

Eligible Activities:  Learning and specialized training, courses, registration, fees, and tuition for:

  • Business management including topics such as:
    • Financial analysis
    • Cash flow management
    • Human resource management
    • Cost of production
    • Benchmarking
  • Business leadership
  • Business management conferences

Ineligible Activities 

  • Travel costs 
  • Acquiring programs, software, devices, stationary or other assets 
  • Costs incurred before the project start date. 
 

Stream 2: Business planning, preparedness and disaster recovery

Goals:  

  • To increase awareness, knowledge, and adoption of best business management practices and support business and sector growth and sustainability.  
  • To support businesses to proactively assess their financial situation as part of a comprehensive risk assessment plan and/or to assess the feasibility of the financial investment in growth, emergency preparedness, or disaster recovery.  
  • To support the development of immediate and long-term business recovery plans for businesses that have been impacted by an external event such as fire, flood, drought, tornado, disease outbreak, COVID-19, death, or illness. 

Funding amount:

  • Individual Application
    • Reimbursement of up to $7,500.
  • Group Application:
    • Two applicants: Reimbursement of up to $15,000.
    • Three or more applicants: Reimbursement of up to $22,500.

Stream 2 is eligible for interim payment.

Any costs that exceed the eligible funding amounts are the responsibility of the applicant.  

Eligible activities  

  • Business planning services and coaching from a business consultant (as outlined in Program Guide to create, update or renew a business plan focused on one, or a combination of, the following eligible activity areas: 
    • Business disaster recovery (e.g., drought, fire, flood) 
    • Business emergency planning preparedness 
    • Business structures 
    • Business strategy 
    • Product development 
    • Production economics 
    • Cash flow and financial analysis 
    • Human resources 
    • Value added ventures 
    • Risk assessment and mitigation 
    • Succession/transition planning 
  • Review and evaluation of existing business plan, strategy, financial and other relevant documents 
  • Meetings between consultant and business owner/operator, family, shareholders, partners, or key business individuals for project planning, goal setting, provision of advisory services and/or coaching, review of analysis and options, and development of plan
  • Travel costs for the consultant for on-site meetings with the business owner/operator (receipts required)
  • Travel costs must be reasonable, not exceed 20% of the project cost, and will be reviewed by the Ministry. Receipts for travel expenses must be submitted with the consultant invoice. No travel outside of B.C. will be reimbursed
  • Production of written business plan and supporting documents

 Ineligible activities  

  • Preparation of legal documents, contracts and/or formal agreements
  • Accounting, bookkeeping, income tax preparation, search of titles, off-farm investment planning and other costs associated with implementing the action plan 
  • Acquiring capital assets
  • Costs associated with the gathering of data (soil analysis, tissue analysis/germination and seed viability testing, crop scouting activities)
  • Activities/costs associated with the preparation/compilation of applications and/or forms for other Provincial or Federal Programs (e.g., crop insurance, AgriStability, AgriInvest, AgriRecovery, Work Safe BC etc.)
  • Costs incurred before the project start date
 

How to apply

To apply for the B.C. Agri-Business Planning Program, complete and submit the Program Application here.

Applicants can apply for one or both streams.

Late applications will not be accepted.

For steps to apply, please refer to the Application Checklist (PDF, 239 KB) and/or the Program Guide (PDF, 1.1 MB).

 

SCAP | Province of British Columbia | Government of Canada