?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 Wraps Up the Year with Over $1 Million in Holiday Cheer for Southern Interior Communities
The Southern Interior is getting more than snow this season—it’s getting a boost of economic support. The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) has approved over $1 million to support 32 innovative economic development projects across its service area through its Fall Funding Intake. These initiatives represent a total investment of over $4 million into the region, which means the funding from ETSI-BC is being leveraged by a factor of more than 2.9 to 1.
These economic developments projects support key industries in the region, including tourism, agriculture, film, tech, sport, and forestry, as well as helping attract new investment and development, support existing businesses, and making communities more vibrant.
The projects will be carried out by a variety of the region’s First Nations, local governments, industry groups, community groups and non-profit business support organizations.
Since its relaunch as ETSI-BC in 2021, the regional economic trust has invested $12.5 million in the region, backing 461 economic development projects that have brought $30.5 million in total investment to the region. These projects have helped create or maintain over 26,000 jobs.
“Our Fall intake attracted a diverse range of strong proposals,” says Laurel Douglas, CEO of ETSI-BC. “With guidance from our Regional Advisory Committees, the projects approved in this Funding Intake will create or sustain 2,887 jobs and deliver real, lasting benefits for communities across the Southern Interior.”
Projects span multiple First Nations communities and regional districts, including the Thompson-Nicola, North Okanagan, Okanagan Similkameen, Central Okanagan, Fraser Valley, Central Kootenay, East Kootenay, Kootenay Boundary, and Columbia Shuswap.
“These investments are about shaping the future,” says Paul Donald, ETSI-BC Board Chair. “Every project we support helps communities innovate, adapt, and be more resilient into the future.”
Looking ahead, Douglas adds: “We’re seeing ripple effects across the Southern Interior. From community-driven ideas to sector-specific strategies, these projects are building momentum for a vibrant regional economy. That’s something worth celebrating.”
ETSI-BC Fall 2025 Funding Intake Results by Region
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Here is the list of approved projects from the ETSI-BC FY2026 Fall Funding Intake:
| Organization | Project Name | Approved | Total Project Value |
| Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce | Discover Grand Forks 3.0: Signage & Digital Integration Project | $30,000 | $75,000 |
| Castlegar and District Chamber of Commerce | Castlegar & District Food and Agricultural Environment Scan and Feasibility Study | $35,000 | $173,000 |
| Columbia Basin Sport Society | Business of Sport in the Basin | $25,000 | $70,000 |
| Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen | Okanagan Food & Innovation Hub – Launch | $75,000 | $766,500 |
| Cranbrook, City of | Make it in Cranbrook FDI Investment Attraction | $20,000 | $42,500 |
| Creston Valley Food Action Coalition | Agricultural Innovation, Diversification and Entrepreneurship Project | $60,000 | $531,302 |
| Creston Valley Tourism | Creston Event Ready Program | $25,000 | $40,000 |
| Interior Logging Association | Online Forestry Business Resource Directory | $22,000 | $37,100 |
| Kamloops Food Policy Council | Grow & Connect Interior Network Expansion | $33,000 | $89,000 |
| KAST | KAST Kootenay TechEdge: Advancing Tech Sector & Business Tech in the Kootenays | $39,400 | $184,490 |
| Kootenay Career Development Society (KCDS) | KCDS Employer Services Expansion Project | $16,500 | $112,000 |
| Lardeau Valley Opportunity Links Society | Meadow Creek Store Coop Feasibility | $25,000 | $44,000 |
| Lower Columbia Community Development Team | Advancing Critical Metal Tech Alley | $75,000 | $125,000 |
| Merritt & Nicola Valley Destination Marketing | Merritt Downtown Conversion Program | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Nakusp and Area Development Board | Arrow Lakes Agri-food Alliance | $25,000 | $50,050 |
| Nelson & District Arts Council | Kootenay Culinary Series | $40,000 | $520,000 |
| Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce | Greater Nelson Business Retention and Expansion Survey | $20,000 | $40,000 |
| Nelson Civic Theatre Society | Kootenay Regional Film Commission: Film Forward Building Regional Resilience | $46,600 | $82,954 |
| Nooaitch First Nation | Post Ranch Feasibility Study | $25,000 | $31,200 |
| North Okanagan Land to Table Network | The Food Shed – Processing Feasibility Study | $25,000 | $66,990 |
| Ntityix Development Corp. | Okanagan Commercial/Mix Use Development Plan | $75,000 | $200,000 |
| Oliver and District Heritage Society | Archival System Modernization | $25,000 | $65,590 |
| Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen | Regional Economic Development Coordinator | $25,000 | $104,150 |
| Shuswap Economic Development Society | Shuswap Region Broadband Infrastructure Project (SRBI Project) | $25,000 | $166,866 |
| Similkameen Country Development Association | Similkameen Agri-Tourism Readiness | $25,000 | $98,000 |
| Slocan Valley Chamber of Commerce | Slocan Valley Expo Fair | $17,000 | $19,000 |
| The Kamloops Sports Council | Economic Impact Study 2025 Kamloops Christmas Market | $20,000 | $50,000 |
| Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association | Tourism Impact Modeling | $50,000 | $95,000 |
| Toby Creek Nordic Ski Club | Columbia Valley Nordic Experience Marketing Project | $25,000 | $54,500 |
| Tourism Fernie Society | Feasibility Study Visitor Information Centre | $30,000 | $60,000 |
| Tourism Kamloops | Tourism Measurement Framework | $12,500 | $27,000 |
| Tourism Sun Peaks | Sun Peaks Production Academy | $25,000 | $35,000 |
| TOTALS | $1,042,000 | $4,081,192 |
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.
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ETSI-BC Fall 2026 Funding Intake: Up to $1M Available for Projects
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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
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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
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