June 25, 2026 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is grateful for the input from partners, funding recipients, committee members and other regional stakeholders who have taken the time to help inform our next three-year Strategic Plan for 2027-30. We are also pleased to provide an update on the status of the DAAP 4.39 action item.
KAST and Foresight Leading Transition to Net Zero in the Kootenays
A dynamic partnership between the Kootenay Association for Science and Technology (KAST) and Foresight Canada’s BC Net Zero Innovation Network (BCNZIN) is driving the transition to a cleaner, greener and sustainable future for Kootenays.
As the technology-focused economic development association for the Kootenay region, KAST is dedicated to providing entrepreneurs and businesses with the support they need to thrive. Foresight is Canada’s cleantech accelerator and was contracted by KAST in 2022 to coordinate two consultation sessions in the East and West Kootenays.
Innovation Essential for Industry and Communities
The project is the first consultation of its kind between industry and innovators aimed at creating specific cleantech projects in the Kootenay region.
“Collaboration among innovators, investors, industry, government and academia is essential in the drive to a clean transition,” points out Sam Farrell, East Kootenay Director for KAST. “KAST has worked with Foresight before, and we know it has the extra teeth when it comes to these kinds of events.”
A total of 46 stakeholders turned for the sessions in Cranbrook and Nelson in May 2022, spanning home builders, mining exploration companies, internet service providers, as well as academic institutions, First Nations, and municipal governments. Participants discussed the unique challenges and opportunities facing Kootenay-based communities to reduce their carbon footprint. The in-person format also provided an opportunity for participants to showcase existing cleantech projects, and gain valuable feedback on their approaches, including how to leverage resources and source funding.
The Economic Trust of Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) supported the project through its Innovating and Advancing Key Sectors funding stream which encourages transition to a net zero economy. “Regions with an effective cleantech strategy will be more resilient, competitive and sustainable,” points out Laurel Douglas, CEO of ETSI-BC. “New job creation, a more diversified economy, and new technologies, products and services are among the benefits that will be realized on the road to net zero.”
The initiative is also supported by PacifiCan, the BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, and Columbia Valley Community Economic Development.
Collaboration is the Path Forward
Capacity building was identified as a major challenge throughout the region. Participants said most small to medium-sized businesses, municipalities and regional governments lack the time and expertise to research, develop or deliver innovative projects. Attendees supported moving to a model where municipalities across the Kootenays pool resources to cut costs, and organizations share what they learn through their cleantech projects with other communities.
With transportation accounting for 70 percent of emissions in the Regional District of Central Kootenay, the need for a sustainable, resilient, and better-connected transportation system to move people and goods efficiently across the region was expressed.
Ways of handing residual forestry waste, and the need for battery recycling hubs were also explored. In the area of agri-tech, a potential Community Sea Can Farm Project was highlighted which would require less food being transported into the region, reduce transportation-related emissions and drive food costs down.
Other challenges include lack of awareness about cleantech solutions, how to integrate them into existing systems, and attracting skilled workers needed for cleantech projects.
The Cranbrook event was held in a historic venue owned and operated by the Ktunaxa Nation, enhancing the connection between technology, industry and Indigenous communities. Extensive discussion took place between the City of Cranbrook and Aq’am and Akisq’nuk First Nations to develop a renewable energy facility at the Cranbrook Airport.
From Assessment to Implementation
This project’s impact has extended well beyond the consultation events. New cleantech projects have been identified. Foresight Canada has gained a tangible presence in the Kootenays, paving the way for strong, long-term relationships with stakeholders and rightsholders.
KAST, the BCNZIN and other regional partners are building on the information from the recent sessions. Once the projects are refined, Foresight will reconvene the participants to create priorities, facilitate working groups and fundraising, and initiate priority projects.
More News & Stories
ETSI-BC Fall 2026 Funding Intake: Up to $1M Available for Projects
June 18, 2026 – The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is pleased to announce that its next Funding Intake will launch on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 and close on Thursday, October 1, 2026.
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
March 30, 2026 – We are pleased to present the findings and recommendations of the 2026 ETSI-BC Legislative Review Committee. The Committee reviewed the Act that governs ETSI-BC and the proposed changes that the Province has put forward this year. A Legislative Review is conducted every 5 years by an independent committee. This year in particular, their report has several important recommendations of relevance to First Nations and local governments in the Southern Interior, and to the Province.
Stepping up the PACE of Inclusive Employment in Penticton
Creating flexible, part-time job opportunities for workers with barriers has been the driving force behind The Penticton & Area Cooperative Enterprise (PACE) for more than 20 years. Hundreds of employees have found sustainable jobs with local employers based on PACE’s job-sharing model to fill full-time positions.
With support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), PACE has standardized and expanded its model to ensure more people can access paid work in the community and employers have access to labour market solutions, which are increasing economic growth in the Penticton area and beyond.
Columbia Valley on a Roll as Film Production Provides Region-Wide Benefits
With its spectacular landscapes and the small-town charm of communities like Radium, Invermere and Fairmont Hot Springs, the Columbia Valley in the East Kootenay region has been the backdrop of film productions for decades. In 2024, Columbia Valley Community Economic Development (CVCEDO) built on this momentum by hiring a Film Coordinator to ensure the Columbia Valley was the location of choice for two new productions and create a strategy for long-term growth of the film sector. The project was supported with a grant from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).