Kalesnikoff is set to build its $34 million prefabricated mass timber facility with a $6.7 million contribution from the BC Government’s Manufacturing Jobs Fund.
Kalesnikoff Chief Operating Officer, Chris Kalesnikoff, said during a media briefing Friday that they’re expecting to break ground on the third facility soon and anticipate having it fully operational by the end of 2024.
The project secured the provincial grant because of how it aligns with the province’s commitment to lower construction costs, speed up timelines, and deliver more affordable homes to B.C. residents.
The funding comes from the Ministry of Jobs and Economic Development’s Manufacturing Jobs Fund, which Minister Brenda Bailey said focuses on the forestry sector in rural areas.
“The goal behind this fund is to try to ensure that we’re building out well-paying jobs throughout the province. We want to make sure that people can have well-paying jobs in their own communities and not have to move away. Helping private sector companies build out their manufacturing operations is a way to keep good jobs and to build more jobs.”
Bailey said the province understands the value of mass timber, calling it a “triple word score” that adds value to the forestry sector and builds high-quality jobs.
“We want to get more jobs out of every log we bring out of the bush, and that really helps in terms of keeping high-quality jobs here. Mass timber is also a really beautiful building supply because of its low GHGs, it’s stunningly gorgeous, and it’s a made-in-BC solution.”
The new facility will be located on a 7.5-hectare portion of 195 Highway 3A near Castlegar, near the new FedEx building at the West Kootenay Regional Airport.
It’s expected to add over 100 new local jobs to Kalesnikoff’s existing staff base of about 320 people across its two existing facilities.
The building will be constructed using Kalesnikoff products and is expected to meet urgent construction market needs with the introduction of new products and services, such as modular construction, prefabricated wood components, and ready-to-install custom products.
Castlegar Mayor Maria McFaddin said the city looks forward to growing its partnership with Kalesnikoff with the addition of the new facility on city land.
“We are so excited about having Kalesnikoff in our city limits and getting to grow that partnership. I want to say thank you to the provincial government for seeing the value not only in this company but in our region and investing in that. It is with their partnership that we continue to make forestry a sustainable future for our region, and we need their partnership in order to do that.”
The BC Government has committed $180 million to the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, half of which supports the forestry sector.
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