The Bee BC Program is a fantastic opportunity for your beekeeping business. This program offers up to $7,000 in funding to support projects that enhance bee health. This can include purchasing new equipment, implementing best management practices, and introducing innovative techniques to improve your bee colonies.

Why apply?

• Financial Support: Up to $7,000 to cover costs for new equipment, technology, and other bee health initiatives.
• Expert Guidance: Access to industry experts and resources to help you implement and share best practices.
• Community Impact: Enhance bee health in your region, benefiting not only your business but also the wider environment.

What's in it for you?

• Improved Bee Health: Implement new strategies and technologies to maintain healthy bee colonies.
• Knowledge Sharing: Contribute to and benefit from shared information on best practices in beekeeping.
• Easy Application: The program is designed to be accessible, with clear guidelines and support available throughout the application process.

By participating in this program, you can make a significant impact on bee health in British Columbia while receiving financial and expert support to advance your beekeeping practices.

Type of Financing: Grant

Repayment Terms and Interest Rates:

• No repayment required.
• No interest rates apply.

Eligible Expenses:

• Costs for new equipment and technology that enhance bee health.
• Transportation costs of beehive equipment for irradiation.
• Costs for pollen substitutes and/or supplements.
• Costs for seeding and planting new bee forage.

Ineligible Expenses:

• Regular activities related to commercial honey production.
• Business development activities aimed at generating income.
• Marketing, promotional, or market development activities.
• Purchase of standard equipment to maintain a bee colony.
• Normal costs of establishing or maintaining a bee colony or commercial honey operation.
• Purchase of land, buildings, and facilities.
• Lease of land, buildings, and facilities.
• Financing charges, loan interest payments, bank fees, and charges.
• Costs incurred before project approval or after project completion.

Fees:

• No fees are associated with this program.

• Must be a regional/community beekeeping association or group.
• Must be a beekeeper with permitted hives.
• Must be a group of beekeepers with permitted hives.
• Must be a First Nations/Indigenous Peoples Organization.

Disqualifications:

• Projects not directly focused on bee health.
• Regular or ongoing maintenance of bee colonies.
• Regular activities related to commercial honey production.
• Business development activities aimed at generating income during or after the project.
• Marketing, promotional, or market development activities.
• Purchase of standard equipment to maintain a bee colony.
• Normal costs of establishing or maintaining a bee colony or commercial honey operation.
• Costs associated with purchasing bees or maintaining compliance with legal requirements.
• Queen bee rearing as an income-generating enterprise.
• Beekeeper and/or staff wages, salaries, benefits, stipends, etc.
• Purchase or lease of land, buildings, and facilities.
• Financing charges, loan interest payments, bank fees, and charges.
• Any cost eligible for a rebate, credit, or refund.
• Gifts and incentives.
• Permits and approvals.
• Legal fees.
• Costs incurred before project approval or after project completion.
• Costs related to activities that directly influence or lobby any level of government.

This program offers your business up to $7,000 in funding. You can use this money to research, test, and share best practices for bee health. This includes buying new equipment, trying out new techniques, and planting bee-friendly forage.

Eligible activities include:

• Purchasing new equipment to improve bee health.
• Implementing new management practices, like beehive equipment irradiation.
• Introducing pollen substitutes or supplements.
• Seeding and planting new bee forage.

The funding is available from April 1, 2024, to February 28, 2025. This program is a great opportunity to enhance bee health in your community, share valuable information, and contribute to the wider environment.

1. Create an Account on the IAF Client Portal:

• Visit the IAF Client Portal.
• Create a personal profile with your name and email.

2. Register Your Organization:

• Provide your organization’s information, including:

  • Name
  • Contact details
  • Type of organization
  • BC ID / CRA numbers
  • Primary contact

• Note: It can take up to two business days for IAF staff to verify your organization registration.

3. Prepare the Required Documentation:

• Gather the following documents:
  • Project description
  • Timeline of key activities
  • Details of who will undertake the work
  • Alignment with program priorities
  • Performance measurement information
  • Project budget and funding request
  • Supplementary materials (e.g., letters of support, CVs, quotes)

4. Apply for Funding:

• Log in to the IAF Client Portal.
• Select the Bee BC Program from the Funding Opportunities.
• Provide the project start and end dates.
• Select project activities from the eligible activities list.
• Upload the prepared documentation.

5. Submit the Application:

• Ensure all required fields and documents are completed and uploaded.
• Submit your application by the deadline: February 27, 2024, at 16:30 PST.

6. Review and Adjudication:

• After submission, your application will be reviewed by technical experts and industry specialists.
• Applications will be assessed based on eligibility, alignment with program objectives, and other scoring criteria.

7. Await Notification:

• Successful applicants will be notified by April 12, 2024.
• If approved, you will receive details of the decision and any associated terms and conditions.

8. Sign the Contribution Agreement:

• If your project is approved, sign the agreement with IAF.
• Ensure all project activities requiring financial resources commence only after the agreement is signed.

9. Execute the Project:

• Begin your project on or after April 1, 2024.
• Complete all project activities by February 28, 2025.

10. Submit Final Report:

• Submit a final report via the IAF Client Portal upon project completion.
• Follow the provided instructions for report submission.