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
Boosting Profile and Partnerships at Nk’Mip Forestry
A new marketing and communications strategy for Nk’Mip Forestry, one of 13 businesses managed by the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB), is turning the company into an economic driver for one of Canada’s most progressive First Nations.
With 584 members, the OIB has become an economic development model for other First Nations by consistently expanding its investments on its approximately 32,000 acres of land in the South Okanagan region of BC. Commercial leasing, tourism, and construction-related services contribute the most to OIB’s bottom line.
Nk’Mip Forestry was created to address the need for sustainable forestry practices in the area while safeguarding OIB’s cultural and environmental values. Income from the business pays the salaries for its employees, provides funding to build homes for band members, and contributes to the community’s social programs.
For several years, Nk’Mip Forestry maintained a strong and successful partnership with Vaagen Fibre Canada to operate its forest licences. With the closure of that company in 2023, Nk’Mip Forestry pursued a marketing and communications strategy to enable the company to promote itself for new business opportunities through a stronger online presence.
The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) supported the project through its Building Economic Development Capacity funding stream to help market and grow the band-owned business. The funding helped Nk’Mip Forestry hire a Southern Interior-based firm that had worked on previous projects with Nk’Mip Forestry, to build its online branding that represented its values, and create a strategic communications strategy to enhance the company’s reputation.
Sustainability – A Call to Action
“We’ve taken a holistic approach to the strategy’s development, with OIB values reflected in how we manage the land,” points out Dan Macmaster, Head of Forestry. The new website for Nk’Mip Forestry provides a platform for communication with stakeholders about what the company is doing to protect local wildlife and water, mitigate wildfire risks, and contribute to the regional economy through job creation and sustainable practices.
The new logo for Nk’Mip Forestry reflects the landscape of Oliver and Osoyoos, with a howling coyote carved out of a mountain symbolizing the company’s commitment to protecting and sustaining the surrounding forests. One of the coyote’s ears is depicted as a feather, a symbol of Indigenous peoples in BC that also shows Nk’Mip Forestry’s respect for traditional wisdom and values.
New Partnerships
In the course of the project, two new OIB-owned joint ventures were created: Siya Forestry, a joint venture between Nk’Mip Forestry and the Infinity-Pacific Stewardship Group Ltd. dedicated to advancing community development in the Okanagan, Kootenay and Boundary regions, and Skemxist Solutions, a joint-venture with The Sutherland Group of Companies that provides services and equipment for all stages of heavy construction.
“Since we completed the project funded by ETSI-BC, the Forest Enhancement Society of BC has provided additional support to help us complete projects and create more partnerships. The message is out to investors: “This is an applicant we can trust,” Macmaster says.
A number of partnerships are in development with companies and organizations including Interfor, Weyerhaeuser, BC Ministry of Forests, BC Hydro and others. In addition, 10 new jobs have been created for OIB members.
The new Communications Strategy created by this project will guide the Nk’Mip Forestry team in planning and implementing communications for the first year; at that point it will continue to build on the foundation based on how the strategy is achieving its goals. “This project would not have been possible without the support of ETSI-BC,” says Macmaster. “The new plan is a living document that builds credibility for First Nations taking the lead in good forest management and it opens new doors to economic opportunities for the 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.