BC Invests $6.75M, Creating 101 Manufacturing Jobs

British Columbia is betting big on local manufacturing, and the payoff means over 100 new jobs for communities across the province.

Premier David Eby announced on April 8 that four companies will share $6.75 million from the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund. The investment will create 101 new positions while helping businesses expand their operations and reach more customers.

Surrey-based Mako Wood Furniture is receiving the largest share at $5.5 million to build a new facility in Merritt, creating 29 jobs. CEO Harjit Jassal says the expansion represents "a significant step toward creating a more resilient future" for the community.

Three other companies are also growing. Good Way Homes in Malakwa received $625,000 to build new manufacturing space and add 27 positions. Dinoflex Group in Salmon Arm got $410,000 to upgrade its recycled rubber flooring facility and hire seven people. Kinetic Custom Trailers in Penticton secured $216,000 to expand into a second facility, adding 38 jobs.

The announcement took place at Farming Karma in Kelowna, a company that received $2 million from the same fund last year. That investment helped the farm-to-table beverage maker double production and hire 20 people over 12 months.

The Ripple Effect

These investments do more than create paychecks. Good Way Homes CEO Logan Ashley called the funding a "game-changer" that will triple production capacity. Farming Karma now upcycles imperfect fruit into beverages sold across Canada, turning food waste into profit while creating local jobs.

Premier Eby notes that more Canadians want to support homegrown businesses. By helping local producers scale up, the province is meeting that demand while building sustainable employment in smaller communities like Merritt, Malakwa, and Penticton.

The fund demonstrates how strategic investments in manufacturing can strengthen regional economies beyond major cities. Each dollar supports not just jobs, but entire communities working to build economic resilience.

One hundred and one families now have new opportunities because British Columbia chose to invest in its own backyard.