Selling local food in a crowded market is hard. B.C. agri-food and seafood businesses often compete with lower-cost imports and big national brands. The Buy BC marketing grants help level the field by covering part of your marketing and promotion costs so more consumers choose products grown, raised, or made in B.C..
The main program for businesses is the Buy BC Partnership Program — Producers, Processors and Cooperatives, funded by the Province of British Columbia and delivered through Buy BC.
The Buy BC Partnership Program — Producers, Processors and Cooperatives provides repayable marketing funding to increase demand for B.C. agri-food and seafood products sold within the province.
You may be eligible if your business meets all of the following:
Industry associations, boards, and councils apply under a separate Buy BC stream with higher funding caps, which is not the focus of this article.
The program supports consumer-facing marketing and promotional activities tied directly to increasing sales of B.C. products. Common eligible costs include:
All activities must clearly promote B.C. origin and align with Buy BC objectives.
Tools like GrantHub’s eligibility matcher can help you quickly filter Buy BC and other marketing programs by province and industry in seconds.
To use Buy BC branding in your marketing, you must hold a Buy BC logo licence. Program FAQs confirm that applicants are expected to meet branding requirements, including securing the licence by the required deadline for their intake.
For agri-food and seafood businesses, marketing budgets are often the first thing cut. Buy BC marketing grants reduce that risk by:
Because funding is tied to measurable promotional activity, the program favours practical projects with clear sales outcomes. Many businesses have used this support to launch new products, refresh their brand, or reach new customer groups with less financial risk.
Underestimating the cash flow gap
Buy BC funding is reimbursed after expenses are paid. If you cannot cover costs upfront, your project may stall.
Including non-marketing expenses
Equipment purchases, production costs, and general operating expenses are not marketing activities and are usually ineligible.
Weak B.C. branding
Projects must clearly promote B.C. origin. Generic marketing with no Buy BC alignment often gets reduced or rejected.
Missing self-funding ratios
If your budget does not meet the required 50% or 65% contribution, your application may be deemed ineligible.
Q: Is the Buy BC Partnership Program funding repayable?
Yes. Funding is provided as a reimbursement after approved marketing expenses are incurred and verified. You must pay costs upfront before receiving funds.
Q: Can new agri-food businesses apply?
Yes, as long as you meet eligibility rules and can self-fund at least 50% of the project. First-time applicants often apply for smaller, well-defined campaigns.
Q: Are online ads and social media marketing eligible?
Yes. Digital advertising and online promotions are commonly funded when they directly promote B.C. agri-food or seafood products.
Q: Is there a fixed application deadline?
The program is currently listed as open, but intakes can close once funding is fully allocated. Applying early improves your chances.
Q: Are Buy BC grants taxable?
In most cases, government funding is considered taxable income. Confirm the treatment with your accountant based on your business structure.
If your business sells B.C. agri-food or seafood products locally, Buy BC marketing grants can offset a large share of your promotion costs while strengthening your brand. GrantHub tracks hundreds of active grant programs across Canada—including Buy BC and other provincial marketing supports—so you can quickly see which options fit your business profile.
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