How Axis Forestry and Kamloops Precision Machining secured PacifiCan support, and what it means for other local businesses
Kamloops manufacturing is having a good year on the federal stage.
Over the past several months, two Kamloops companies have been named in Pacific Economic Development Canada funding announcements. Axis Forestry Inc. and Kamloops Precision Machining have together been approved for close to $1.6 million through the Regional Tariff Response Initiative, a federal program built to help Canadian businesses absorb the pressure of shifting global trade conditions and come out of it stronger.
These are not tariff consolation payments. Both investments are aimed squarely at growth: new capability, new products, and new markets. That distinction matters, and it says something useful about how Kamloops’ manufacturers are positioning themselves in today’s changing markets.
Axis Forestry Inc.: $590,000 to reach new markets
Announced March 2, 2026, as part of a package of more than $13 million for ten projects across the Southern Interior.
Axis Forestry builds specialized steel-based large timber harvesters, machines that allow logging operations to work more efficiently in the field. The federal investment will help the company adapt its harvester to process smaller timber and promote the redesigned product into new international markets.
There is a second benefit that is easy to overlook. Axis sources its steel primarily from Canadian suppliers, so growth at the company reinforces domestic supply chains. Local jobs, Canadian inputs, international sales. That is a strong profile for a Kamloops manufacturer, and it is exactly the kind of project the federal government is looking to back right now.
Kamloops Precision Machining: $1 million for advanced coating technology
Announced August 10, 2026, as part of an investment of more than $30.5 million for 24 businesses and organizations across British Columbia.
Kamloops Precision Machining makes and repairs parts for the heavy-duty machinery that mining, energy, and construction operations depend on. The federal investment will help the company add laser coating technology, improving the durability and performance of the metal components it produces.
The technology also matters environmentally. Laser coating gives Canadian industry a cleaner alternative to traditional metal coating processes, which means the investment supports skilled jobs in the Interior while advancing a more sustainable industrial capability. Kamloops Precision Machining is now one of a small number of Canadian shops offering this service.
About the Regional Tariff Response Initiative
The Regional Tariff Response Initiative is a $1.95 billion national initiative delivered through Canada’s regional development agencies. In British Columbia, it is delivered by PacifiCan.
The program launched in fall 2025 with $1 billion nationally. In spring 2026, the Government of Canada announced additional funding, including $500 million for small and medium-sized businesses affected by trade disruptions, $300 million directed at the forest sector, and $150 million for the food sector.
RTRI supports businesses that are working to:
- Boost productivity and reduce operating costs
- Build more resilient supply chains
- Reach new domestic and international markets
Funding available
For businesses with commercial projects, RTRI offers $200,000 to $10 million per project in repayable contributions, or $200,000 to $1 million per project in non-repayable contributions. Not-for-profit organizations with non-commercial projects that support small and medium-sized enterprises may receive up to $10 million per project.
Who is eligible
Incorporated for-profit businesses employing between 10 and 499 full-time employees, and not-for-profit organizations that support small and medium-sized enterprises.
Current status
PacifiCan is accepting applications. A closing date has not been set and will be determined based on demand and available funds. PacifiCan has committed to providing at least 20 business days of advance notice before intake closes.
Full program details are available at PacifiCan’s Regional Tariff Response Initiative page.
About PacifiCan
The Regional Tariff Response Initiative is one program among several. PacifiCan is the federal economic development agency for British Columbia, and it funds work well beyond tariff response, including business scale-up, innovation ecosystem development, community economic development, and Indigenous economic participation.
For Kamloops businesses, PacifiCan is one of the most substantial sources of non-dilutive capital available. It is also one of the most underused, largely because the application process rewards preparation that many growing companies have not yet done. Successful applicants typically arrive with a clear growth plan, defensible financial projections, and a specific, costed project rather than a general funding request.
How Venture Kamloops can help
If you are a Kamloops business considering a PacifiCan application, please reach out before you start writing.
We can help you:
- Assess whether your project and your company fit RTRI or another PacifiCan program
- Connect with the right PacifiCan officer for a preliminary conversation
- Strengthen the business case, financial projections, and growth plan behind your application through VK Accelerate, our business and financial planning program
- Access other funding partners if RTRI is not the right fit, including Community Futures Thompson Country, WeBC, BDC, and Futurpreneur
If your business employs fewer than 10 people, RTRI will not be available to you, but other options will be. A conversation with our team is the fastest way to find out which ones.
Contact Venture Kamloops Email: info@venturekamloops.com Phone: 250-828-6818
Congratulations to the teams at Axis Forestry and Kamloops Precision Machining. We look forward to seeing what both companies build next.