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OKANAGAN FALLS, B.C. – The Government of British Columbia is contributing as much as $7 million towards development of mass-timber manufacturing in Okanagan Falls, B.C.

B.C.’s contribution through the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund (BCMJF) provides an incentive for Mercer Mass Timber (MMT), a subsidiary of Mercer International, to invest in the future of their Okanagan Falls facilities, which MMT acquired one year ago, a release said.

The funding will support the purchase of new advanced manufacturing equipment and completion of factory upgrades to modernize the facilities, improve production efficiencies and scale manufacturing of a wider variety of mass-timber products, the release said.

MMT will produce cross-laminated timber in the Okanagan, enhance its production of glulam (glued laminated timber) by 25 per cent and improve the quality of the finished products, used predominantly as structural components for multi-tenant buildings.

“This support enables us to create jobs and boost the local economy, while solidifying B.C.’s position as a global leader in the mass-timber industry. Mercer Mass Timber is determined to lead the way in sustainable mass timber and this partnership significantly strengthens our ability to do so. We’re excited for what’s to come and how we can all make a positive difference within the industry,” MMT senior vice-president Brian Merwin said in the release.