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.
ETSI-BC Announces Major Increase in Funding Levels for 2025
The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is pleased to announce that its Board has approved new grant allocation levels for its Spring and Fall Funding Intakes, effective immediately.
The Spring 2025 Funding Intake is currently open for applications, and up to $1 million in funding from ETSI-BC is available, an increase of 60% from the prior year. In addition to increasing the Funding Intake allocation, maximum grant sizes will increase to:
- $25K for a small project (up from $20K), and
- $75K for a large project (up from $50K).
Eligible organizations for ETSI-BC funding continue to include the area’s local governments, First Nations, non-profit industry groups and established non-profit business support organizations based in the region, such as Chambers of Commerce and Community Futures.
The ETSI-BC Spring Funding Intake will accept applications for its Building Economic Development Capacity and its Innovating & Advancing Key Sectors funding streams until April 11, 2025 at 4 pm. Make sure to review our updated Application Guide. To learn more, please CLICK HERE.
“This significant funding increase demonstrates our continued commitment to fostering economic growth and diversification across the Southern Interior,” said Paul Donald, ETSI-BC Board Chair. “By raising the maximum grant limits as well, we are enabling more substantial projects to create lasting positive impacts for our communities, particularly in the smaller rural and First Nations areas where economic development resources are often limited.”
This increase in the ETSI-BC Spring and Fall Funding Intakes is being complemented by other increases in support that ETSI-BC will be providing in the region. Its overall grant budget is increasing by more than 70% and will also include a targeted program to help companies in the region to diversify their markets away from the US, which is expected to be launched with a key partner in the coming weeks.
Laurel Douglas, the CEO of ETSI-BC, notes, “Our expanded funding capacity comes at a critical time for our region. As communities work to support their businesses to diversify markets and build resilience, these enhanced resources will help the economy of the Southern Interior of BC to adapt to the new challenges we are now facing.”
Learn more about ETSI-BC Funding Streams:
The Building Economic Development Capacity Program focuses on empowering communities to achieve their economic aspirations and fostering new economic development initiatives. This program prioritizes small, rural, and First Nations communities to build their economic development capacity. To learn more, CLICK HERE.
The Innovating and Advancing Key Sectors Program supports strategic investments in regional sector-based economic development projects. This program aims to stimulate industry clusters, support industry sector groups to address challenges and opportunities, and encourage environmental sustainability and the transition to a Net Zero economy. Priority is given to regional industry partnerships in key established or emerging sectors in the Southern Interior region. To learn more, CLICK HERE.
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.