On Monday the Northern Development Initiative Trust announced a rebate program aimed at helping small- and medium-sized businesses affected by permanent mill closures and curtailments.
The Forestry Affected Business Consulting Rebate program will reimburse businesses for up to 75 per cent of the costs of hiring consultants to assist the firm plan for the downturn in the forest sector. The maximum rebate is $15,000.
"The Trust is very aware of the potential economic impacts mill closures and curtailments may have on communities and businesses in our service region," NDIT CEO Joel McKay said in a press release. "This program seeks to help offset those impacts and sustain our communities during this difficult time."
While Northern Development already offers a Competitiveness Consulting Rebate program for businesses in the industrial supply and services sector, the new program is targeted at businesses outside the forest sector including retail, tourism, hospitality, agriculture, etc.
To be eligible, businesses must be privately-owned, have less than 500 employees and have annual revenues of less than $100 million.
For more information, go online to www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca.
