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.
First Southeastern BC Agriculture Forum Creates Partnerships for Ongoing Collaboration
In response to severe climate change and other impacts on agriculture, the first Southeastern BC Agriculture Forum, held in March of 2025 in Creston, addressed the region’s most critical issues. The inaugural event had a packed agenda that brought food producers together with policy and decision-makers, leaving participants eager to see the forum held on a regular basis.
The project was led by Kootenay Employment Services Society (KES) through the Creston Valley-Kootenay Lake Economic Action Partnership Program (CVLEAP), which was created in 2017 to develop an economic action strategy for the Creston Valley-Kootenay Lake area. The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) provided funding for the event and spoke with Ben Sargent, Executive Director of KES about the value of the forum today and into the future.
What was the impetus for this event?
Ben: In the Southern Interior of BC, extreme weather events are critically stressing producers’ abilities to maintain their operations, reducing food security and threatening the livelihood of the area’s mainly rural communities. From droughts to unexpected cold snaps, pest infestations and forest fires, the Creston area has been hit especially hard. It was time to have serious conversations around these issues and pursue a more resilient agricultural community.
How is the forum model different from other agriculture gatherings that are taking place in the province?
A variety of similar events exist in major centres, but the Southern Interior agriculture community lacks opportunities for professional development and networking. It is a big deal for farmers to make the time to get together like this, so we wanted to provide lots of value. By including politicians and other agricultural decision makers, we created a dynamic environment for education, connections and conversations. The politicians who attended left with an understanding of the uniqueness of agriculture in our region and our needs are top of mind while they are in Parliament.
What did the participants discuss and learn?
While the main focus was on equipping producers with tools to address the changing climate, the speakers provided insights to sustainability and risk management of tree fruits, heat stress in cattle, and emergency preparedness – all real-life impacts our farmers are dealing with today. Other presentations focused on the process to exporting, managing water needs, invasive species, and succession planning. Supports for new and aspiring farmers, pathways to land access, financial tools, grant programs, and other support services were also discussed.
How important was regional collaboration to the forum’s success?
As the delivery organization for the EAP, KES was well positioned to lean on partners and their deep connections in community to make sure the event was a success. It was particularly critical for us to engage regional stakeholders early on in the planning process to understand what topics ought to be included. A number of sessions were focused on support to agri-forestry organizations and agri-tourism operators, amplifying the impact of the event beyond agriculture alone. A productive partnership between KES and the Fields Forward Society laid the foundation for continued delivery of the Agri-Forum.
How did you measure success of the project?
Through a post-event survey, participants showed a strong desire to continue the event every one to two years, have even more interactive sessions and networking opportunities, and more presentations by local producers. The connections made have paved the way for greater support and advancement of the industry and will support cluster development and industry competitiveness.
The event welcomed 123 participants, including representatives from 55 local businesses. Of these, 40 were food producers and agri-businesses that benefited directly from the knowledge shared. In addition, 15 local businesses were selected as vendors or subcontractors for the event. The forum also attracted out of town visitors to the valley during the off-season, providing a welcome boost to local hospitality, retail and the food and beverage sectors.
Products and services that emerge from the event are still in the early stages of development, but as relationships grow and ideas take shape, tangible outcomes will materialize. In the meantime, we’re already tweaking the format for future iterations of the event.
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
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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.