Tolko Industries is in line to receive up to $8 million in government funds to expand its Heffley Creek plywood mill including construction of a facility that will house a new engineered wood division.

The capital project, supported by the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund (BCMJF), will diversify the mill’s current production beyond commodity plywood to include specialty, industrial and engineered wood products. This includes products to support new home construction, as well as commercial, furniture, millwork, door and window, and non-residential building systems. The expansion is expected to create 20 new jobs. The mill currently employs approximately 250 people.

“We’re taking action to support innovative manufacturing companies using new technology to diversify their operations and get the most value out of every tree harvested,” said Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. “By supporting advanced engineered wood products, we’re seeing companies protect and create the good, family-supporting jobs that are a part of our Industrial Blueprint ensuring the stronger, cleaner economic future of B.C.”

In addition to this funding, the province is also providing up to $45,760 in BCMJF funding to support Tolko’s Lake Country Division to explore the use of robotics in the production of non-residential, made-in-B.C. wood products.

Tolko acquired Heffley Creek Plywood in 1987 as part of its purchase of Balco Forest Products.

The BCMJF was created to support high-value industrial and manufacturing capital projects in all sectors that will create and protect well-paying jobs. The BCMJF has committed up to $91.3 million to B.C.’s manufacturing sector, supporting 81 organizations to expand and grow. Funds committed to date through BCMJF will help create more than 1,100 jobs and protect nearly 2,000 existing manufacturing jobs throughout B.C., more than 2,500 of which are in the forestry sector.

Source:  tolko.com