?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 More Economic Development Funding
August 12, 2021 – Fresh on the heels of an announcement of $305,000 in economic development capacity building funding awarded to nine recipients throughout the Southern Interior of B.C., the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) has announced an additional $335,000 in funding. This is now ETSI-BC`s second funding intake which saw 27 submissions put forward from project partners from the Columbia-Kootenay and Thompson-Okanagan regions.
“Once again, our hardworking team and Board are delighted to announce funding which will help build economic development capacity in Southern Interior of BC communities,” said Laurel Douglas, CEO, ETSI-BC. “Two of these newly funded projects include First Nations partners, and 11 of the 18 are focused on helping expand industry sectors in community, specifically in the tourism, tech, manufacturing, agri-food, and forestry sectors.”
Douglas believes the diversity of the 18 projects speaks to the diversity of the communities and their specific needs.
“We rely on our First Nations, municipalities, destination marketing organizations, and other partners to develop innovative and community-centric proposals to build economic development capacity within their communities. Our role is to help guide them through our funding intake process, provide suggestions of collaborative partnerships, and ultimately if successful, the funding to either help get their projects off the ground or to take that next step to reach their project outcomes.”
Newly funded projects in the Spring 2021 intake include:
| Organization Name | Project Name | Funding Approved |
| City of Cranbrook | Tourism Master Plan | $50,000.00 |
| Corporation of the District of Summerland | Okanagan Food and Innovation Hub – Feasibility Activities | $37,679.00 |
| Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce | Local Food Connections for Thriving Communities | $15,000.00 |
| Community Futures North Okanagan | The Vernon Innovation and Entrepreneur Workspace (VIEW) | $26,610.00 |
| Lower Columbia Initiatives Corporation | West Kootenay Regional Supply Chain Resiliency | $20,000.00 |
| Kamloops Indian Band Dev Corp | TteS Business Economic Development Strategic Plan 2022-2025 | $16,500.00 |
| Tourism Sun Peaks | Resort-wide Meeting, Conference & Incentive Travel Strategic Plan | $8,000.00 |
| Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Society (KORE) | Creating BC Supply Chain Solutions for the Outdoor Gear Industry | $15,000.00 |
| Community Futures Greater Trail | Business Facade Improvement | $22,500.00 |
| Community Futures Central Kootenay | Cannabis Economic Development Council | $15,000.00 |
| Lardeau Valley Opportunity Links Society | Strengthening Agriculture in Area D Through Class D Licensing | $6,000.00 |
| Interior Logging Association | ILA Member Support Services – Small Project | $15,000.00 |
| Columbia Valley Tourism Marketing Society | Valley Wide Tourism Marketing | $12,750.00 |
| District of Sicamous Development Corporation | Strategic Action Plan Development | $15,000.00 |
| Township of Spallumcheen | Community Branding Exercise | $15,000.00 |
| Kootenay Employment Services Society | Youth Ambassador Summer Workforce Challenge | $15,000.00 |
| Trail of the Okanagans Society | Trail of the Okanagans – First Nations Consultation | $15,000.00 |
| Okanagan Falls Economic Development | OK Falls High Speed Internet Capacity Building | $15,000.00 |
Since the beginning of the fiscal year, ETSI-BC has funded a record number of projects, due in part to the efforts of ETSI-BC team members, most notably Mary Beadman, Paul Wiest, and Renata King. The Trust has funded 54 projects, providing over $2.3 million to communities, economic development practitioners, industry associations, and business support organizations throughout its service area. Of these, 25 projects were funded in the Columbia-Kootenay region, and 29 were in the Thompson-Okanagan, aligning closely with the rural population split between the two regions.
And ETSI-BC is just getting started.
“We plan to have at least one more funding intake this fiscal year under our ‘Building Economic Development Capacity` and ‘Innovating and Advancing Key Sectors’ strategic pillars,” said Douglas. “We will also be funding some interesting projects in partnership with the six public post-secondary institutions in the Southern Interior and launching a new collaboration with Mitacs – a non-profit research organization – to encourage industry/post-secondary research partnerships.”
For More Information, please contact: Laurel Douglas, CEO | 236.420.3680 | laurel@etsi-bc.ca
We’d love to hear from you!
201 – 460 Doyle Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 0C2
Phone: 236-420-3680 ext. 0
info@etsi-bc.ca
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