?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).
Budding Success: Cannabis Transition Program Cultivates Thriving Economic Landscape in Central Kootenays
The game is changing for the cannabis industry in the Central Kootenay region with support from the Kootenay Cannabis Council (KCC), an outcome of the Cannabis Business Transition Initiative led by Community Futures Central Kootenay (CFCK).
Prior to the 2018 legalization of cannabis, the Central Kootenay region was home to approximately 2,000 licensed cannabis producers and an additional 500 unauthorized producers. Together they generated an estimated 20 to 30 percent of the regional economy. Although many of the region’s producers have been operating for years, the heavily regulated legal market requires a steep financial commitment and imposes strict limitations on marketing and packaging. Even well-established growers may lack the capacity and skills to navigate the regulatory environment on their own.
A United Voice for Cannabis-Related Businesses
The KCC, previously known as the Cannabis Economic Development Council, was formed in 2020 to support the development of the legal cannabis sector in the region. It responds to government engagement with one voice while reducing stigma and misconceptions about cannabis history and culture. Council members represent the sector’s diverse stakeholders including industry, government, economic development practitioners, researchers, and educators.
CFCK received grant funding from the Economic Trust of Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) in 2022 to help take the Council from its formative stage to the next level. The project was a good fit with the strategic pillars that guide ETSI-BC funding including building economic development capacity, developing human capital, and advancing key sectors. The funding supported the hiring of Council Coordinator Abra Brynne, a nationally respected food systems advocate and policy analyst. Additional funding for the role was provided by the Regional District Central Kootenay.
Collaboration With Multiple Partners
With a dedicated Council Coordinator on board, the KCC gained capacity to actively promote review and recommend changes to government policies while supporting growers as they navigate the transition process. The KCC has informed governments at all levels about the need for policy reform and reducing red tape. It engaged with the Provincial Government in the development of marketing initiatives such as the Farm Gate and Direct Delivery programs and collaborated with Selkirk College and Kootenay Rockies Tourism to explore cannabis tourism opportunities. The Council also endorsed an initiative by a Kaslo-based publisher to produce BC’s first cannabis directory, and supported BC’s first Cannabis Summit hosted by the BC Craft Cannabis Coop and the Association of Canadian Cannabis Retailers in 2021. The summit is now an annual event.
Between 2019 and 2022, Investment into the Kootenay cannabis sector included 19 loans from CFCK totaling $3,447,500 to support startup businesses with costs for construction, working capital, equipment purchases, retail fixtures and inventory. More than 135 jobs were created in the region’s legal cannabis industry.
Velvet Kavanagh, a Kootenay-based consultant with 20 years’ experience as a business owner and manager in agriculture, assumed the Council Coordinator role in November 2022.
“With the support of ETSI-BC, the KCC now has a solid foundation to continue its effort to create a more positive business environment around the cannabis industry,” says Kavanagh.
“Future cannabis-related opportunities could relate to destination tourism, education about cannabis use and production, and growth of ancillary businesses that serve the sector.”
More News & Stories
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.
ETSI-BC Spring Funding Intake Invests Over $1 Million to Strengthen the Southern Interior Economy
June 8, 2026 – Communities across British Columbia’s Southern Interior are set to benefit from a new round of investment through the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior. On June 5, 2026, ETSI-BC approved $1,011,000 in funding for 33 projects, representing a combined project value of $3 million. The funded initiatives will help communities diversify their local economies, support innovation, and respond to regional opportunities
Helping Shape the Future of ETSI-BC Support in the Southern Interior
May 11, 2026 – ETSI-BC is inviting partners from across the Southern Interior to participate in a series of virtual focus groups as part of an Impact Assessment that will inform its next three-year Strategic Plan, covering the period from April 1, 2027 to March 31, 2030.
Similkameen Economic Vitality Plan Drives Growth and Resilience
Keremeos, one of the fastest growing rural communities in British Columbia, has evolved from its agricultural heritage to a business hub at the heart of the Similkameen region with a robust tourist sector and vast potential to develop new business opportunities. In 2024, the Similkameen Country Development Association initiated a comprehensive Economic Vitality Initiative to better address the pressing needs of local businesses. Collaboration by many stakeholders along with funding support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) drove the plan to completion, and the strategies it contains are now being implemented.
Ktunaxa Business Showcase Links Indigenous Businesses to Procurement Opportunities
The Ktunaxa Business Showcase, led by the Ktunaxa Nation Council (KNC), is expanding, improving and helping members secure new business contracts in southeastern BC. The success of the most recent 2025 Showcase event reflects strategic changes to the program’s timeline and format, and was supported by funding from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).
Strong Demand for ETSI-BC Spring Funding Intake
April 15, 2026 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) closed its 2026 Spring Funding Intake, with a strong response from communities and organizations across the region. The intake closed on April 9, 2026, with 48 applications requesting nearly $1.7 million in funding, representing a combined project value of almost $4 million.
2026 ETSI-BC Legislative Review
March 30, 2026 – We are pleased to present the findings and recommendations of the 2026 ETSI-BC Legislative Review Committee. The Committee reviewed the Act that governs ETSI-BC and the proposed changes that the Province has put forward this year. A Legislative Review is conducted every 5 years by an independent committee. This year in particular, their report has several important recommendations of relevance to First Nations and local governments in the Southern Interior, and to the Province.