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.
New Funding for 26 Economic Development Projects
Communities in the Southern Interior of BC have something to celebrate this season. ETSI-BC, the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior, has just announced the successful applicants of its Fall Funding Intake, and awarded over $543,800 in funding to support 26 projects that will help build and diversify the region’s economy. Project partners include local governments, First Nations and non-profit organizations in BC’s Southern Interior.
“With this latest batch of approved projects, ETSI-BC continues to help grow local economies. Since re-launching as ETSI-BC, we have approved more than $4.5 million in grant funding in support of our 5 Strategic Pillars. These projects have a total value of over $11 million in the region, and they have helped create or maintain more than 7,500 jobs ,” notes Laurel Douglas, CEO of ETSI-BC.
| ETSI-BC Fall Funding Intake Approvals by Region | ||
|---|---|---|
| Columbia-Kootenay | $249,800 | 46% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | $254,000 | 47% |
| Both Regions | $40,000 | 7% |
| $543,800 | 100% |
The impact of ETSI-BC funding can be felt in all corners of the BC Southern Interior. Projects approved in this Funding Intake alone are taking place in three First Nations and all Regional Districts in the Southern Interior, including the Thompson-Nicola, Okanagan Similkameen, Central Okanagan, North Okanagan, Central Kootenay, Kootenay Boundary, East Kootenay, the Columbia Shuswap, and the Fraser Valley.
“On behalf of the ETSI-BC Board, I am delighted to share this news,” said Sharon Shepherd, ETSI-BC Board Chair. “These projects will help build economic development capacity in our communities, support innovation and help advance key sectors of our region’s economy.”
Laurel Douglas added, “We are so proud of the difference we are making all over the Southern Interior and look forward to seeing these exciting projects come to fruition.” Here is a list of projects approved in the ETSI-BC Fall Funding Intake:
| PROJECT PARTNER | PROJECT NAME |
|---|---|
| BC Association of Abattoirs (dba BC Meats) | Building the Meat Cluster in the North Okanagan |
| Boston Bar Community Charities Association | Boston Bar Economic Opportunities Analysis |
| Castlegar and District Chamber of Commerce | Castlegar and District Business Retention and Expansion Data Collection and Implementation Project |
| Chawathil First Nation | Economic Opportunity Analysis |
| City of Armstrong | Coordinated Downtown Revitalization Plan |
| City of Revelstoke | Business Retention, Innovation and Transition Tool (BRITT) |
| Columbia Valley Housing Society | Workforce Housing Project Manager |
| Community Futures Greater Trail | Beyond the River Campaign |
| Community Futures North Okanagan | REACH |
| Cranbrook, City of | Canadian Rockies International Airport Regional Employment Lands |
| District of Clearwater | Clearwater Wayfinding & Signage |
| Kakin Resource Corporation | qukin amakis Property |
| Kamloops Indian Band Development Corporation (KIBDC) | Branding for New Economic Development Entity |
| Kimberley & District Chamber of Commerce | Kimberley Health Centre Investment Opportunities Analysis |
| Kootenay Association for Science and Technology | Kootenay Net-Zero Innovation Action Plan |
| Lumby & District Chamber of Commerce | Lumby Youth – Local Workforce Development |
| Nakusp and Area Development Board | Grow Arrow Lakes |
| Naramata Centre Society | Naramata Centre Hospitality & Viticulture Residency Program |
| Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce | Nelson & Area Cleantech Feasibility Study |
| Okanagan Falls Winery Association | Digital Marketing Strategy Implementation |
| Salmon Arm and District Chamber of Commerce | Building the Workforce in Salmon Arm |
| Small-Scale Meat Producers Association | Southern Interior Butcher Hub Network |
| South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce | Business Retention Expansion & Relocation Program |
| South Shuswap Chamber of Commerce | Collaborative Strategic Planning |
| The Corporation of the City of Vernon | Community Economic Development Service Mapping |
| Venture Kamloops Economic Development | Collaborative/Regional Workforce Development |
For More Information, please contact:
Laurel Douglas, CEO | 236.420.3680 | laurel@etsi-bc.ca
About ETSI-BC
ETSI-BC, the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior, was created in 2006 with a $50 million endowment to assist in the growth and diversification of the economy of the Southern Interior of BC. The Trust is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors, receiving input from Regional Advisory Committees made up of elected officials from both the Thompson-Okanagan and Columbia-Kootenay regions. We add value to the economic development ecosystem and provide funding for projects in four key funding streams:
More News & Stories
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
Keremeos, one of the fastest growing rural communities in British Columbia, has evolved from its agricultural heritage to a business hub at the heart of the Similkameen region with a robust tourist sector and vast potential to develop new business opportunities. In 2024, the Similkameen Country Development Association initiated a comprehensive Economic Vitality Initiative to better address the pressing needs of local businesses. Collaboration by many stakeholders along with funding support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) drove the plan to completion, and the strategies it contains are now being implemented.
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).
CF Central Okanagan Leadership Program Teaches Businesses Sustainability Practices
An innovative program to help new and expanding businesses build sustainable business practices (SD) into their ventures has resulted in a model for long-term business growth and economic capacity building in the Okanagan. The Sustainable Business Development Leadership Program created by Community Futures Central Okanagan was supported by the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC). It provides valuable insights into Sustainable Business Practices and the training serves as a model that could be shared with Community Futures clients in other regions.