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
Central Kootenay Businesses Achieve Green Business Certification
The Central Kootenay region is now a certified “Green Business Hub” with supports in place to help regional businesses reduce their environmental impact and be more resilient in the face of climate change.
The designation is the result of a partnership between Community Futures Central Kootenay (CFCK) and the Synergy Foundation, a non-profit organization created to lead the transition towards a green economy. Through the foundation’s BC Green Business initiative, it provides businesses with affordable certification and action items to make their businesses more sustainable.
“The need for responsible business practices has never been stronger,” says Alison MacDonald, Community Economic Development Coordinator for CFCK. “The impacts of climate change pose significant risks, from supply chain disruptions to damaged infrastructure, but the cost of certification in addition to other expenses prevents many businesses from exploring environmentally friendly practices.”
The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) supported the project through its Innovating and Advancing Key Sectors funding stream. Additional funding was provided by the Columbia Basin Trust, Nelson and Area Economic Development Partnership, and the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK).
“The project leverages Community Futures Central Kootenay’s network of community partners and small business owners,” says Laurel Douglas, CEO of ETSI-BC. “This certification program is a great way to help businesses identify practical and affordable ways they can take climate action.”
In addition to helping businesses get certified, CFCK and the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) are also pursuing BC Green Business certification.
Certification Process
The BC Green Business program begins with a three-part webinar series designed to inspire businesses to start on the path toward climate resilience. Then, for those ready to make changes in their business, there is a cost of about $2,500 to receive an initial assessment and, once the recommendations are implemented, become BC Green Certified.
Regional governments and business organizations throughout the Central Kootenays including the RDCK, Nelson, Castlegar, Kaslo, New Denver, Silverton and Slocan City have committed to 100% renewable energy by 2025 and promoted participation in the program through their networks. The 15 seats originally offered for the webinar series quickly filled up and four more spaces were added.
Fifty-nine people attended at least one of the webinars providing diverse representation from the hospitality, tourism, financial, manufacturing and other sectors. All the attendees received customized information to help them maintain their businesses, diversify, create new services and products, and/or attract customers who choose to support climate-friendly businesses.
“The 19 businesses that have become certified so far have been able to reduce emissions, conserve energy and water, and divert waste, creating efficiencies and cost savings,” MacDonald says.
Business Buy-In
Participating businesses have come from a variety of industries and locations. The Kootenay Co-op in Nelson, Canada’s largest independent consumer owned natural foods retail cooperative, used the program to focus on areas that could streamline or improve their operations, which included a sustainable procurement process. Endless Adventures, a professional rafting and touring company in the Slocan Valley transitioned to renewable energy as its primary power source, adopted composting, reduced plastic waste and switched to printing on recycled paper. Converting to LED lighting, using sustainable packaging and shipping methods and other practices have been implemented by the more than 270 BC Green Business certified organizations in the province.
Award-Winning Initiative
The CFCK initiative was recognized by Community Futures British Columbia with its 2024 Innovation and Excellence award.
Potential for Expansion
This approach to encouraging businesses to enhance their environmental and social performance has the potential to be replicated by other Community Futures and business support organizations throughout BC.
There is also potential to expand beyond the certification program. The seeds have also been planted for future partnerships among certified BC Green Business members. One example is a shared commercial composting program between the City of Nelson and the RDCK.
For Community Futures Central Kootenay, the certification program has helped them provide even more services to their region’s businesses. “This project expands the scope of CFCK’s supports while recognizing that businesses have a significant role to play in mitigating and adapting to climate challenge,” says MacDonald. “It’s an important milestone on the road to a more sustainable economy for our region.”
More News & Stories
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.
Stepping up the PACE of Inclusive Employment in Penticton
Creating flexible, part-time job opportunities for workers with barriers has been the driving force behind The Penticton & Area Cooperative Enterprise (PACE) for more than 20 years. Hundreds of employees have found sustainable jobs with local employers based on PACE’s job-sharing model to fill full-time positions.
With support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), PACE has standardized and expanded its model to ensure more people can access paid work in the community and employers have access to labour market solutions, which are increasing economic growth in the Penticton area and beyond.
Columbia Valley on a Roll as Film Production Provides Region-Wide Benefits
With its spectacular landscapes and the small-town charm of communities like Radium, Invermere and Fairmont Hot Springs, the Columbia Valley in the East Kootenay region has been the backdrop of film productions for decades. In 2024, Columbia Valley Community Economic Development (CVCEDO) built on this momentum by hiring a Film Coordinator to ensure the Columbia Valley was the location of choice for two new productions and create a strategy for long-term growth of the film sector. The project was supported with a grant from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).
CF Central Okanagan Leadership Program Teaches Businesses Sustainability Practices
An innovative program to help new and expanding businesses build sustainable business practices (SD) into their ventures has resulted in a model for long-term business growth and economic capacity building in the Okanagan. The Sustainable Business Development Leadership Program created by Community Futures Central Okanagan was supported by the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC). It provides valuable insights into Sustainable Business Practices and the training serves as a model that could be shared with Community Futures clients in other regions.
Benefits of Social Enterprise Explored in the Boundary
Backed by ETSI-BC, the Trails to the Boundary Society (TTTBS) are helping nonprofits move beyond grants to build sustainable revenue.