Third intake opens for mass timber construction funding

VICTORIA, B.C. — The third intake of Mass Timber Demonstration Program (MTDP) projects is now open.

Businesses, local governments and First Nations can apply to the program to build with mass timber in B.C. communities.

The provincial government is putting $2 million into the third intake, building on $5.4 million already spent on support of 12 mass timber building projects and four research projects from the first two intakes.

“Growing B.C.’s mass timber sector is a key part of our government’s vision for the future of forestry – a future where we get more value from every tree harvested. Mass timber continues to prove that it is a superior building material, often exceeding the performance of concrete and steel, while cutting emissions nearly in half. These efforts align with our goals of creating a balanced and diverse forest sector that supports B.C. jobs, as well as our commitments to the environment,” said provincial Minister of Forests Katrine Conroy in a statement.

The MTDP was established in spring 2021 and the Mass Timber Action Plan was launched in April 2022 to build demand for mass timber buildings.

Individual projects can receive as much as $500,000 for costs associated with design development, permitting and construction using mass timber.

“B.C. is a leader in the mass timber sector and especially within North America, with 307 mass timber structures having been built throughout the province as of mid-2022,” the release stated.