Since 2021, the Township of Spallumcheen has been exploring the development of a regional Agri-Hub to strengthen local food distribution and support agricultural growth. With support from ETSI-BC, the Township is developing a phased business plan to help build a resilient and profitable agricultural sector for the future.
Recovery Advisors Soon To Be Deployed To Support Southern Interior Communities and Businesses
Communities and businesses in the Southern Interior will soon be receiving new support for economic recovery. ETSI-BC, the newly re-named Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (formerly SIDIT), announced today that it has selected the successful funding recipients of the Rural Business and Community Recovery (RBCR) Program.
“We are very excited with the interest shown by communities and business support organizations in the Southern Interior to add Recovery Advisors through this funding. This funding intake was oversubscribed. Applications were received from 27 different organizations, and requests totalled $2 million,” said Laurel Douglas, CEO of ETSI-BC. “We’re delighted to provide this assistance in our region with support from the Province of British Columbia as it delivers on its StongerBC Plan.”
After careful consideration, the adjudication team selected 20 successful applicants, whose projects will create a total of 30 part-time and full-time Recovery Advisor positions, to assist businesses and rural communities in the Southern Interior with COVID-19 economic recovery. Of the 30 positions approved so far, 14 are based in the Thompson-Okanagan and 16 are in the Columbia-Kootenay regions.
The RBCR Program will provide up to $1.5 million in grant funding to support economic business recovery initiatives within rural communities in the Southern Interior. Eligible communities have a population of less than 25,000 and applicants are required to be local, municipal, or regional governments, First Nations, or non-profit business support organizations serving the region.
Successful applicants will be receiving up to $75,000 to create Community and/or Business Recovery Advisor positions. Recovery Advisors will support businesses with marketing, e-commerce, capital planning, referrals, research, business retention, and other economic development initiatives.
“It’s inspiring to see so many innovative ideas come forward. We assessed the applications as quickly as we could, to make this support available as soon as possible,” said Douglas. “Our team is working with the successful proponents to finalize their workplans and funding agreements so the Recovery Advisors can be engaged and begin providing much-needed recovery support.” There are 59 communities in all 9 ETSI-BC regional districts being served with these projects, including 10 First Nations communities.
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More News & Stories
New Tourism Strategy Transforms Grand Forks from a Highway Stop to a Destination
The Southern Interior community of Grand Forks has completed a major rebuild and relaunch of its original tourism strategy, shifting the community from being a quick stopping point on Highway 3 to a tourism destination. With support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), the strategy served to develop new tourism assets attracting more visitors and generating increased revenue for local businesses.
Sicamous Tourism Strategy Builds a Path for Sustainable Growth
From houseboating to sledding, hiking, biking, and birding, Sicamous is the tourism hub of the Shuswap region. While summer visitors fill Sicamous with activity, off-season visitations drop sharply, prompting the community to pursue a more diversified and sustainable year-round tourism future. The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) supported the District of Sicamous Development Corporation in revitalizing the community’s tourism sector with a dynamic, five-year tourism strategy to 2030.
Forestry Strategy Positions ?aq’am First Nation for New Opportunities
Increased timber harvest allocations for BC’s First Nations are opening the door to new business opportunities for enterprising First Nations communities such as ?aq’am in the East Kootenays. With funding support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), ?aq’am developed a forestry business scan, a strategy to build capacity for projects made possible by the expanded forest tenure. The scan is guiding ?aq’am to increase its role in forestry as it pursues a resilient and sustainable future.
ETSI-BC Welcomes Krista Mallory as Regional Project and Strategic Initiatives Manager
July 29, 2026 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC)) is pleased to announce that Krista Mallory will be joining the organization as its new Regional Project and Strategic Initiatives Manager effective October 1, 2026.
Wayfinding in Barriere for Economic Resilience and Growth
When a major fire destroyed the Tolko sawmill in the North Thompson region near Barriere in 2003, residents and stakeholders rallied to rebuild and redefine the community’s economic future. As the community has evolved, so have the systems that help residents and visitors navigate in and around Barriere, including a multi-phase Wayfinding Strategy launched in 2024. The project, supported by the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is aimed at boosting visitor traffic and attracting more business investment, ensuring a strong and resilient future.
Five-Year Plan Strengthens ?aq’am Community Enterprises
?aq’am Community Enterprises (ACE) is the economic development arm of the ?aq’am First Nation, the largest member of Ktunaxa Nation. Known for its progressive business development goals, ACE undertook a comprehensive review of its strategic priorities. The result is a dynamic new five-year strategic plan that will guide more efficient, tactical, and resilient delivery of ACE’s programs and services. The project was supported by the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).
Thompson-Okanagan Launches New Economic Development Practitioners Network
After a year of work connecting economic development practitioners across the Thompson-Okanagan, the region’s first Economic Development Practitioners Network (EDPN) is now in place. Modelled after the Kootenay Boundary EDPN created in 2014, the Thompson Okanagan EDPN includes community and municipal and First Nations economic development practitioners, Chambers of Commerce, Community Futures and other stakeholders. The group came together for the first time on April 8, 2026, where they learned, shared ideas and information, and further planned future activities. The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is committed to supporting both the Kootenay Boundary and Thompson-Okanagan networks of economic development practitioners.
2027-30 Strategic Planning and DAAP 4.39 Updates
June 25, 2026 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is grateful for the input from partners, funding recipients, committee members and other regional stakeholders who have taken the time to help inform our next three-year Strategic Plan for 2027-30. We are also pleased to provide an update on the status of the DAAP 4.39 action item.
ETSI-BC Fall 2026 Funding Intake: Up to $1M Available for Projects
June 18, 2026 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is pleased to announce that its next Funding Intake will launch on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 and close on Thursday, October 1, 2026.