The City of Maple Ridge is proud to support our local residents and businesses through our varied incentive programs. Explore the options below to see what you may qualify for.
Provincial Tax Incentives
Refundable tax credit available to qualifying companies for up to 10% of eligible research and development activities performed in British Columbia up to $3 million.
Refundable tax credit equivalent to 17.5% of the labour costs associated with an interactive digital media activity. Eligible corporations who hire employees from under-represented groups may also qualify for an additional tax credit of up to 2% of all eligible costs through the diversity and inclusion program component if all conditions are met. Corporations that have claimed an Alberta Scientific Research and Experimental Development Tax Credit in the current taxation year are not eligible. The program currently runs through September of 2023, but the 2023 budget proposed to extend the credit by five years.
The film and television tax credit is for eligible corporations that produce eligible film or video productions in British Columbia. The credits are for domestic productions with qualifying levels of Canadian content.
The film and television tax credit program consists of six tax credits:
- Basic tax credit
- Regional tax credit
- Distant location regional tax credit
- Film training tax credit
- Digital animation, visual effects and post-production tax credit
- Scriptwriting tax credit
Refundable tax credit available to employers who employ workers enrolled in a certified apprenticeship program administered through SkilledTradesBC. The training tax credit amount is calculated based on the amount of eligible salary and wages paid to an eligible employee during the eligible period. An additional tax credit is available if the company is engaged in the shipbuilding and ship repair industry.
The shipbuilding and ship repair industry tax credit is a tax credit for eligible employers that employ apprentices in the BC shipbuilding and ship repair industry.
An eligible employer is an employer whose principal business is constructing, repairing, or converting ships. An eligible apprentice is an employee who is registered as an apprentice with SkilledTradesBC and is enrolled in an eligible apprenticeship program.
For the purpose of the credit, ships are defined as sea-going vessels propelled by engine but do not include vessels ordinarily used for personal or recreational purposes.
The farmers' food donation tax credit is a non-refundable income tax credit to encourage farmers and farming corporations to donate certain agricultural products that they produce in BC to registered charities, such as food banks or school meal programs.
The credit is 25% of the eligible amount of a farming corporation's qualifying gifts for the tax year.
The provincial budget for 2023 extended the farmers' food donation tax credit until December 31, 2026. The credit is available to farming corporations who make a gift of agricultural product after February 16, 2016 and before January 1, 2027.
The small business venture capital tax credit is for corporations that invest in shares of a registered venture capital corporation or eligible business corporation.
The small business venture capital tax credit encourages investors to make equity capital investments in BC small businesses, in order to give small businesses access to early-stage venture capital to help them develop and grow.
Effective for the 2022 to 2024 calendar years, the 2022 provincial budget proposes to increase the annual maximum venture capital tax credit from $38.5 million to $41 million. This budget also proposes to allocate this $2.5 million increase to investments made in clean technology businesses.
Energy Efficiency Incentives
Maple Ridge is taking leadership for sustainability by installing LED lighting in our public parks, municipal buildings, and streets.
The Employment Land Investment Incentive Program provides additional benefits for energy-efficient projects. Qualifying employment lands projects can receive property tax exemptions for up to ten years.
Our program is even more rewarding for energy-efficient projects. To help you achieve the maximum tax exemption offered by the program, you'll want to explore the programs and valuable resources offered by energy companies. Developers are encouraged to explore energy efficient and alternative energy solutions to achieve the maximum benefits available under these incentive programs.
FortisBC and BC Hydro have programs to assist with designing, building, financing, and carrying out studies on energy efficient systems to help you maximize your savings. If you'd like to explore your options, let us know and we'll put you in touch.
Power Smart offers financial incentives, resources and technical assistance to building owners, developers and the design industry to create high-performance, energy-efficient buildings. For more information call 604-552-4713 or 1-866-522-4713.
Upgrading to high-efficiency technologies and taking advantage of business rebates is easier than ever with the Energy Rebate Centre—your one stop shop for energy savings.
Incentives for Businesses in Downtown Maple Ridge
These incentives are available to businesses in the Maple Ridge Downtown Business Improvement Association catchment area.
This program is a collaboration between the Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association and the City of Maple Ridge. It provides grants to property and business owners in downtown Maple Ridge to renovate, restore, or redesign their commercial building facades and storefronts. The purpose of this program is to revitalize the downtown core by improving the appearance of buildings and making downtown a more inviting and interesting place to shop, walk, live, and play.
The Mural Program provides artistic public wall paintings on selected buildings in the downtown area.
If you are a building owner interested in a mural for a wall of your building, consider applying for a Mural Program grant, where the Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association may fund up to 50% of the cost of the mural, up to $3,000. The Mural Program is always accepting applications.
This grant program is based on CPTED, which stands for “Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design.” It is an approach to crime prevention that uses urban and architectural design and the management of built and natural environments. When properly applied, these principles can deter crime and help make people feel safe.
The program will provide free access to a CPTED assessment of your business location and surroundings. Depending on the outcome, grant funding may be provided to assist with recommended modifications.
Brownfield Revitalization Incentives
Brownfields are under-utilized or vacant commercial and industrial properties that may have contamination issues. These properties are often located in prime areas and have significant redevelopment potential. Examples of award-winning brownfield redevelopments that have transformed their communities include South East False Creek in Vancouver and Dockside Green in Victoria.
BC Brownfield Renewal provides information and resources to local governments, developers and professionals on brownfield redevelopment in British Columbia.
The members of the Canadian Commercial Council of REALTORS® of The Canadian Real Estate Association specialize in industrial, commercial, and investment real estate, and have long recognized the benefits of rehabilitating and redeveloping existing properties that are under-used or abandoned. These benefits include, among other things, increased local property values, an increased property tax base and increased densities in established urban centres, thereby reducing urban sprawl.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities Green Municipal Fund is your brownfield clean-up partner and much more. Whether you're a municipal government, a municipal-owned corporation, or a private-sector partner, the Green Municipal Fund can help get your brownfield projects moving with grants, loans, and knowledge resources—supporting you through all project stages.
The Green Municipal Fund provides funding for the very best examples of leadership and innovation in municipal sustainable development. These initiatives must aim to achieve significant environmental impact and have the potential to be replicated in other communities.
Other Incentives
The ScaleUp | Innovate BC program supports companies that have completed product market validation and are ready to focus on ramping up product development, manufacturing, marketing, and sales, as well as scaling their organizations and business opportunities to the point where their growth is self-sustaining.
The Dog-Friendly Maple Ridge program creates the opportunity for local business, if applicable, to welcome customers, with their dogs, to their place of business. The program, funded through a grant from the provincial government, is a joint venture between the City, the Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association and the Chamber of Commerce Serving Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
Any local business in Maple Ridge can apply to join the program. Applications are assessed based on the ability to offer safe dog-friendly experiences to customers.
Dog owners are expected to ensure that their dogs are well-behaved when visiting a participating business and ensure that both the owner and the pet are complying with the relevant public health orders.
There are many great natural spaces and urban areas, including dog-friendly businesses, for you to explore with your furry friends. Maple Ridge has six off-leash dog parks and citizens are reminded that dogs have to be on leash in all other areas.