The maze of government programs out there makes it very confusing for wood manufacturing companies to know where to start. This is of real value to our members!
On Jan 23, 2014, BWA member GRS Flooring of Chesley hosted a round table Exchange on government programs available to wood product manufacturers.
Due to the complexity and diversity of programs, and the recent announcement of FedDev funding, it is necessary to rely on experts in this field to inform us and provide support and direction for those interested in engaging in services available to help access them. It is recognized that a number of BWA members have the time and ability to complete applications and navigate these programs, but also that there are many of us who do not.
BWA welcomed Bernadeen McLeod of Mentorworks. She is a proven expert in this field who shared her experience and expertise. Bernadeen provided a very concrete and clear vision of how each and every company should develop a“grant strategy”, and this is really based on your business model and where you are in the evolution of your company.
Various types of programs were reviewed that encompassed recruitment and hiring, capital equipment expense and training and export development to name a few. These are all a mix of both provincial and federal programs that are too lengthy to mention here.
Below is a brief description of Bernadeen’s company: Mentor Works.
Mentor Works, the Canadian government funding expert, provides assistance and support services related to small business funding grants. By assessing our clients’ strategic objectives and innovation challenges, we are able to match optimal government grants for small businesses n Ontario and across Canada in order to accelerate business growth. We work directly with small businesses to solve common business challenges related to business expansion, research and development, human resources & training, capital investment and more through Canadian government grants, FedDev loans, and tax credits. Mentor Works shares knowledge with business owners through daily updates on new programs and resources through our Canadian Government Funding Blog, weekly e-newsletter, social media, and press releases.
This is just one example of the value you can get from participating in BWA’s activities.
If you are a wood product manufacturer in southwestern Ontario and you would like more information on the Bluewater Wood Alliance, contact BWA Manager Mike Baker: manager@bluewaterwoodalliance.com
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