The provincial government has been giving Burnaby businesses a financial boost to promote local products.
Burnaby North MLA Richard Lee visited Urban Digs on Monday to promote the program. At his side were some of the local beneficiaries: Urban Digs, Feast, NutraEx Foods and Jiva Organics.
Under the Buy Local program, businesses can apply to the government for funding for projects that promote B.C. food. The product can be grown, raised, harvested or processed in B.C., and the company must be willing to put up half the money.
Jiva Organics, for example, got more than $95,000 to cover costs associated with in-store promotions, a new website, displays at consumer trade shows, and a rebranding campaign. As part of the program, Jiva Organics has to put the provincial government logo on any new marketing materials.
Jiva Organics is a family-run Burnaby business that supplies organic grocery products. General manager Rattan Bagga said the program is great.
“Especially nowadays, when people have access to products from all over the world, for government to do something like this for local companies, it’s phenomenal,” he said. “Every dollar counts.”
Bagga said buying local helps support local jobs and the economy.
For more information on the program, go to www.iafbc.ca/funding-opportunities/buy-local.
