ETSI-BC Spring Funding Intake Invests Over $1 Million to Strengthen the Southern Interior Economy

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.

The Spring 2026 Funding Intake reflects ETSI-BC’s continued collaboration with First Nations, local governments, and business support organizations, all working together to build long-term economic strength across the region.

Since relaunching as ETSI-BC in 2021, the regional economic trust has invested $14.5 million on 507 economic development initiatives in the region, as of today. Our funding has helped bring in an additional $28.1 million in investments, for a total project value of $42.7 million, and helped create or maintain almost 27,000 jobs throughout the Southern Interior.

“This intake demonstrates the depth of economic leadership and collaboration we see across our region,” says Laurel Douglas, CEO of ETSI-BC. “Communities came forward with thoughtful, practical projects that reflect local priorities. With the support of our Regional Advisory Committees, we approved initiatives that are expected to create or sustain 533 jobs and deliver lasting value in communities large and small.”

Projects approved through this funding span six First Nations communities and eight of the nine regional districts in our service area, including Thompson-Nicola, North Okanagan, Okanagan Similkameen, Central Okanagan, Central Kootenay, East Kootenay, Kootenay Boundary, and Columbia Shuswap.

ETSI-BC Board Chair Paul Donald emphasizes the broader impact of the investments. “Each funding decision is rooted in community need and regional opportunity,” he says. “By supporting projects that strengthen local capacity and encourage innovation, we are helping communities adapt, grow, and build resilient economies for the future.”

Looking ahead, Douglas says the momentum continues to build. “We are seeing how these investments translate into real outcomes across the Southern Interior,” she notes. “From community-led initiatives to sector-focused innovation, every project contributes to a more connected, competitive, and vibrant regional economy.”

Organization	Project Name	Approved	Total Project Value
Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce	Downtown Armstrong Facade Improvement Program	$25,000	$63,000
Armstrong, City of	Wayfinding Signage Program Implementation	$30,000	$113,000
Central Interior Business Accelerator Society	Central Interior AI Adoption & Micro-Team Network	$50,000	$101,000
Clearwater, District of	Clearwater Economic Development Roadmap	$25,000	$25,000
Community Futures East Kootenay	Growing the East Kootenay Community Finance Ecosystem	$25,000	$37,000
Creston Valley Chamber of Commerce	Creston Valley Co-Working Space	$49,000	$501,220
Downtown Salmon Arm Business Improvement Association	Reimagining Downtown: Vacant Space Activation Program	$8,000	$16,000
Elkford, District of	EVEI Strategic Plan and Sustainability Framework	$11,000	$16,000
Kaslo and Area Chamber of Commerce	Kaslo Year-Round Tourism Development Project	$20,000	$25,000
Kimberley, City of	Building Kimberley’s Capacity for Economic Development	$25,000	$50,000
Kootenay Association for Science and Technology	KAST Kootenay Innovation Summit Conference 2027	$50,000	$185,758
Ktunaxa Nation Council	Mobile Biochar Production Unit Feasibility Study	$45,000	$254,300
Lake Country, District of	District of Lake Country Economic Development Strategy	$30,000	$115,000
LocalMotive Farmers Network Cooperative	LFN Cooperative Supply Chain & Operations Planning	$40,000	$135,000
Lower Kootenay Band	Yaqan Nuʔkiy Online Economic Development Platform	$23,000	$23,978
Lumby & District Chamber of Commerce	Business Facade Refresh	$25,000	$47,500
Naramata Centre Society	Feasibility Study for a Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen	$12,000	$31,000
New Denver, Village of	Downtown Revitalization Implementation Plan	$25,000	$25,000
North Shuswap Chamber of Commerce	North Shuswap Destination Trail Framework	$25,000	$39,000
Okanagan Film Commission	Columbia Shuswap Film & Photo Inventory	$40,000	$85,000
Peachland, District of	District of Peachland Revitalization Tax Exemption Program	$25,000	$25,000
Penticton, City of	Penticton Waterfront Tourism Enhancement Project – S.S. Naramata	$50,000	$209,771
Princeton & District Chamber	Princeton Business Attraction and Retention Strategy	$25,000	$26,200
Salmon Arm Economic Development Society	Kitchen Skills Program at Zest Commercial Food Hub	$18,000	$37,730
Shuswap Band	Parson School Adaptive Reuse Feasibility Study	$25,000	$25,000
Silver Star Resort Association	Silver Star ExploreNorthOkanagan.com – eCommerce Platform	$20,000	$48,034
Simpcw Resources LLP	Spatial Fibre Supply Analysis	$30,000	$60,000
Skeetchestn Indian Band	Integrated Clean Energy Hub	$25,000	$25,000
Sparwood, District of	Sparwood Industrial and Commercial Land Assessment	$50,000	$78,900
Trail & District Chamber of Commerce	Community Tourism Strategy Implementation – South Kootenay	$20,000	$62,500
Upper Similkameen Indian Band	Mascot Mine Aerial Tramway (Phase 3)	$60,000	$198,441
West Kelowna Economic Development Corporation	WKEDC Inaugural Strategic Plan	$35,000	$75,000
Wildsight Society (Regional Branch)	Community Forest Biochar & Youth Training Initiative	$45,000	$296,734
	TOTALS	$1,011,000	$3,057,065

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