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.
Economic Development Projects in BC’s Southern Interior Receive Support
Communities in the Southern Interior of British Columbia have a reason to celebrate this winter season. The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) just announced the successful applicants of its Fall Funding Intake and has awarded over $522K in funding to support 27 projects that will help build and diversify the region’s economy. Project partners include local governments, First Nations, industry groups, Chambers of Commerce, Community Futures, and non-profit organizations in BC’s Southern Interior.
“This month, we have approved over $1.1 million in funding, together with the Regional Transportation Enhancement (RTE) Funding Program also announced today. This brings our funding support to communities and First Nations in the Southern Interior to over $3 million this fiscal year. In total, 104 projects worth over $6 million have been approved this year, which will help create or maintain over 7,000 jobs in the Southern Interior of BC,” says CEO, Laurel Douglas. “We are so proud of the transformative value this funding has on our Southern Interior communities.”
ETSI-BC Fall Funding Intake Approvals by Region
| $ Approved | % of Total | |
| Columbia-Kootenay | $243,250 | 46% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | $264,000 | 51% |
| Both Regions | $15,000 | 3% |
| TOTAL | $522,250 | 100% |
Projects approved in this Funding Intake will be carried out by three First Nations and in communities in all nine Regional Districts in the ETSI-BC service area, including the Central Okanagan, Central Kootenay, Columbia Shuswap, East Kootenay, Fraser Valley, Kootenay Boundary, North Okanagan, Okanagan Similkameen, and Thompson-Nicola Regional Districts.
Since re-launching in April 2021, ETSI-BC has approved $7.7 million in grant funding in support of its Strategic Pillars. This funding has supported projects valued at over $17 million and has helped create or maintain almost 18,000 jobs in the region.
“On behalf of the ETSI-BC Board, I am delighted to share this news,” said Sharon Shepherd, ETSI-BC Board Chair. “These initiatives will help enhance economic development capabilities within our communities, foster innovation, and facilitate progress in critical sectors of our regional economy.”
Douglas added, “We’re proud of the impact we’re making in the Southern Interior and can’t wait to see these worthwhile projects be brought to fruition. The following is a list of projects approved in the ETSI-BC 2023 Fall Funding Intake.
ETSI-BC APPROVED Fall Funding Intake PROJECTS as of December 12, 2023
| PROJECT PARTNER | PROJECT NAME | APPROVED AMOUNT |
| Big White Mountain Chamber of Commerce | Business Walk and Shop Local Program | $5,750 |
| Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce | Grand Forks Ambassador Program | $15,000 |
| Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce | Downtown Street Closure Feasibility | $3,000 |
| Community Futures Central Kootenay | Climate Resilient Kootenay Businesses | $30,000 |
| Community Futures North Okanagan | North Okanagan Community Health Clinic | $15,000 |
| Creston Valley Tourism Society | Creston Valley Tourism Society 5-Year Plan & MRDT Consultation | $15,000 |
| Fields Forward Society | Business Development & Marketing Incubator | $35,000 |
| Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre | Feasibility of Small Diameter Logging & Slash Bundling Technology | $29,500 |
| Greater Trail Community Skills Centre | EcoRenovate: Building a Sustainable Future Awareness Campaign | $15,000 |
| Kamloops Food Policy Council | Strengthening the Kamloops Regional Food Supply Chain | $28,000 |
| Kelowna Chamber of Commerce | Southern Interior Regional Economic Summit II | $50,000 |
| Kimberley & District Chamber of Commerce | Kimberley BC Business Retention and Expansion Survey | $15,000 |
| Kootenay Rockies Tourism Association | Building Regional Cannabis Trails | $15,000 |
| Lower Columbia Initiatives Corporation | Southern Interior Food Distribution Model Expansion and Implementation | $35,000 |
| Merritt & District Chamber of Commerce | Chamber of Commerce 3-year Strategic and Tactical Plan | $10,000 |
| North Bend Community Association | North Bend Hall — Community Space Preservation | $15,000 |
| Okanagan Circular Society | OCS Community Solar Initiative | $40,000 |
| Outdoor Recreation Council of British Columbia | Outdoor Recreation Communities Toolkit | $15,000 |
| Regional District Okanagan Similkameen | Naramata Community Revitalization Plan | $15,000 |
| Rotary Club of Castlegar Sunrise | Ecolink Castlegar to Selkirk | $11,000 |
| Salmon Arm & District Chamber of Commerce | Strategic Vision for the Salmon Arm Chamber of Commerce | $5,000 |
| Salmon Arm Folk Music Society | Strategic Planning Roots and Blues | $10,000 |
| Shuswap Economic Development Society | Shuswap Economic Development Office and Workhub | $25,000 |
| Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw – Little Shuswap Lake Band | Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw Business Park Recovery & Expansion | $15,000 |
| Slocan Valley Chamber of Commerce | New Denver Visitor centre feasibility study | $15,000 |
| Trails to The Boundary Society | Social Enterprise Opportunities for Rural Economic Development | $15,000 |
| Westbank First Nation and Okanagan Indian Band | Connected Communities Campaign | $25,000 |
For More Information, please contact:
Laurel Douglas, CEO | 236.420.3680 | laurel@etsi-bc.ca
More News & Stories
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.
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).