?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).
Supporting Entrepreneurship at Post-Secondary Institutions in the Southern Interior
The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) has supported public post-secondary institutions (PSIs) in the Southern Interior of BC since 2008 with funding of over $7 million. With the launch of its new Strategic Plan in April 2021, funding is now being provided to encourage entrepreneurship and to support post-secondary institutions as they help businesses in the region hire local students and graduates.
In FY2022, ETSI-BC supported 6 new projects worth $105,000 in this new area of focus, Developing Human Capital. “ETSI-BC understands the importance of entrepreneurship for students and graduates. Not only is it an increasingly viable career option that helps create jobs and economic activity, but entrepreneurship skills are also highly transferable,” said Laurel Douglas, CEO of ETSI-BC.
ETSI-BC is continuing to serve as a catalyst for new economic development initiatives with this funding. Here are details of the recent projects:
Post-Secondary Projects
| Organization Name | Project Name | Funding | Project Summary |
| College of the Rockies | Entrepreneurship and Innovation Office & Coordinator | $12,500 | Provide business development resources for students, staff and local entrepreneurs. |
| Nicola Valley Institute of Technology | Co-op Employment Preparation | $5,000 | Students will develop pre-employability skills and participate in a 4-month work placement with employers who will receive a wage subsidy through the co-op program. |
| Okanagan College | Enactus OC – Experiential Entrepreneurship Learning Project | $25,000 | Fostering student entrepreneurship and the development of the next generation of business leaders and change makers through Enactus. |
| Selkirk College | Entrepreneurship skills & Building the Outdoor Rec Sector | $12,500 | Students will connect classroom skills to entrepreneurship and support companies to commercialize new products and services. |
| Thompson Rivers University | Tourism Innovation Lab | $25,000 | Students will develop an innovative tourism product through research and industry mentorship. |
| UBC Okanagan | e@UBC Support | $25,000 | Students, staff and recent graduates benefit from training and mentorship support as they explore start-up ideas and build connections within the Okanagan innovation ecosystem. |
“Our mission at ETSI-BC is to support economic development projects that will have long-lasting and measurable impacts,” says ETSI-BC CEO Laurel Douglas. “The outcomes of these Post-Secondary projects will assist the business community in our region by generating more skilled prospective employees and new ventures.”
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.
2027-30 Strategic Planning and DAAP 4.39 Updates
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.
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
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.