?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).
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
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).
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.