The Province is investing in wood-product manufacturing across British Columbia, and Terrace is among the communities set to benefit.
Through the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, Kitsumkalum Development Limited Partnership will receive up to $42,817 to conduct operational and technical assessments aimed at restarting manufacturing operations at the Skeena Sawmills.
The move comes as part of a wider $2.5 million investment into nine forestry companies across B.C. to modernize equipment, expand production, and diversify product lines.
For Terrace, the funding provides an opportunity to reimagine Skeena Sawmills’ potential. The mill has been through some tough years, but it has always been a big part of Terrace’s economy. Getting it running again could bring back jobs and open the door to new opportunities in forestry. For many people here, it would feel like getting an important piece of the community back.
Forests Minister Ravi Parmar said these projects are about protecting jobs and supporting rural economies like Terrace’s.
“These companies are vital to their communities, and this funding is one way we are working with them to help protect jobs, support local economies, and build a sustainable forestry sector for generations to come.”
The BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund has so far supported 74 forestry-product manufacturers with more than $90 million in funding. The program has leveraged over $1.2 billion in capital projects and contributed to the direct creation and protection of nearly 3,600 forestry-sector jobs, particularly in smaller and Indigenous communities.
Jobs Minister Ravi Kahlon said the funding will help create more value from each tree harvested and support companies as they deal with challenges like U.S. tariffs.
The Skeena Sawmills funding is still in the early planning stage, but it could be an important step in bringing Terrace back into B.C.’s forestry sector. If the mill does restart, it could once again provide steady, well-paying jobs while also moving toward more modern and sustainable wood manufacturing.
