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
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
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.