A new 200-acre business park is taking shape in the District of Lake Country. The development will create space for new types of businesses, attract investment, support local jobs, and provide housing options close to where people work. With support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), the project is helping one of BC’s fastest-growing communities prepare for the future.
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
.
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
How One Region Overcame the Tourism Impacts of a 5-Month Ferry Strike
When the Central Kootenay communities of Balfour and the East Shore of Kootenay Lake were hit with a lengthy ferry strike in late 2024, economic development and tourism partners worked closely with businesses on both sides of Kootenay Lake to address the impacts of a significant loss of visitors to the area. With support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior, (ETSI-BC), the area’s Destination Marketing Organization, Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism (NKLT), quickly launched the “No Better Time, No Better Place” marketing campaign as soon as the strike ended, encouraging visitors to return to the communities most affected.
ETSI-BC in the Spotlight
October 14, 2026 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) ) was featured today in BC Business Magazine, alongside our fellow regional trusts, Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT) and Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET).
ETSI-BC Fall Funding Intake Draws Impressive Regional Interest
October 8, 2026 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) received an impressive response to its 2026 Fall Funding Intake from communities and organizations across the region. The intake closed on October 8, 2026, with 43 applications requesting nearly $1.9 million in funding for projects with a combined project value of over $3.8 million.
Township of Spallumcheen Digs Deep in Planning New Agriculture Business Hub
Since 2021, the Township of Spallumcheen has been exploring the development of a regional Agri-Hub to strengthen local food distribution and support agricultural growth. With support from ETSI-BC, the Township is developing a phased business plan to help build a resilient and profitable agricultural sector for the future.
New Tourism Strategy Transforms Grand Forks from a Highway Stop to a Destination
The Southern Interior community of Grand Forks has completed a major rebuild and relaunch of its original tourism strategy, shifting the community from being a quick stopping point on Highway 3 to a tourism destination. With support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), the strategy served to develop new tourism assets attracting more visitors and generating increased revenue for local businesses.
Sicamous Tourism Strategy Builds a Path for Sustainable Growth
From houseboating to sledding, hiking, biking, and birding, Sicamous is the tourism hub of the Shuswap region. While summer visitors fill Sicamous with activity, off-season visitations drop sharply, prompting the community to pursue a more diversified and sustainable year-round tourism future. The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) supported the District of Sicamous Development Corporation in revitalizing the community’s tourism sector with a dynamic, five-year tourism strategy to 2030.
Forestry Strategy Positions ?aq’am First Nation for New Opportunities
Increased timber harvest allocations for BC’s First Nations are opening the door to new business opportunities for enterprising First Nations communities such as ?aq’am in the East Kootenays. With funding support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), ?aq’am developed a forestry business scan, a strategy to build capacity for projects made possible by the expanded forest tenure. The scan is guiding ?aq’am to increase its role in forestry as it pursues a resilient and sustainable future.
ETSI-BC Welcomes Krista Mallory as Regional Project and Strategic Initiatives Manager
July 29, 2026 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC)) is pleased to announce that Krista Mallory will be joining the organization as its new Regional Project and Strategic Initiatives Manager effective October 1, 2026.
Wayfinding in Barriere for Economic Resilience and Growth
When a major fire destroyed the Tolko sawmill in the North Thompson region near Barriere in 2003, residents and stakeholders rallied to rebuild and redefine the community’s economic future. As the community has evolved, so have the systems that help residents and visitors navigate in and around Barriere, including a multi-phase Wayfinding Strategy launched in 2024. The project, supported by the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is aimed at boosting visitor traffic and attracting more business investment, ensuring a strong and resilient future.