Guidelines and Process
FII manages all funding applications and successful contracts through a password protected Online Funding System. Eligible proponents can request an account and get a password to the system.
Eligibility
Funding is directed only to groups or associations representing multi-company interests, and serving the objectives of a large geographical area, or the majority of producers of a specific species or product category and that focus on creating benefits for the B.C. forest sector.
FII funding should benefit multiple companies and interested parties and should not be limited to proprietary interests of any one organization/company.
FII will only accept proposals from existing special purpose industry groups or associations, and not-for-profit organisations representing forest products sub sectors or the sector as a whole. Preference is given to B.C. forest product organisations, but applications will be accepted from national organisations where clear and specific benefits to the B.C. industry can be demonstrated.
Process
Each year in late fall FII publishes its Investment Strategy to guide proponents as they submit applications for market development activities under the annual Call for Proposals.
Proponents can submit a single proposal to FII and its funding partners through FII’s Online Funding System. FII and its Federal funding partners run a joint application and evaluation process for funding proposals.
There are several key steps in the application process including:
- Eligibility assessment
- Drafting and submission of proposals
- Review and evaluation of proposals by FII, its funding partners, and independent industry experts
- Negotiation of final program size, funding, composition
- Drafting of Recipient Agreements for successful proposals
Successful recipients must provide Interim Reports (every four months), and a final Year- End Report, on progress against budget and performance targets through FII’s Online Funding System. FII funding is provided in Interim Advances in line with the budget within the proposal. Final year-end reconciliation of actual expenditure against budgeted amounts occurs in March-April at the end of the annual funding cycle.
Funding Timeline
FII funding is available on an annual basis and, as such, proposals do not exceed one fiscal year (April to March). The primary Call for Proposals runs from November to April each year. FII may run additional calls for new proposals as needed.
