?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).
Salmon Arm Food Hub Adds Zest to Shuswap Economy
Great local food and innovation go hand in hand at the Zest Commercial Food Hub in Salmon Arm, opened in in 2021 by the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society (SAEDS) to meet the needs of the Region’s fast-growing food and beverage processing sector. Within a few months of opening, all anchor tenant space at Zest was fully booked with a waiting list of additional food processors seeking space in the facility. The current activation and expansion phase leverages the hub’s initial success to further grow the sector.
Supporting Food Entrepreneurs with Room to Grow
Food hubs offer small businesses shared access to equipment, research and business development services without the extensive financial investment normally required to access these resources. Hub users also benefit from the relationships they cultivate, creating opportunities for mentorship and information sharing.
Salmon Arm is one of 12 food hubs in the BC Food Hub Network, an initiative of the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food to encourage more agriculture and seafood production, and food and beverage processing in the province. The community has more than 100 farms within its city limits and employment in food and beverage manufacturing and processing is three times the national average. Once the 4,000 square foot food hub is fully operational, it is expected to generate $425,000 into the regional economy through new business investment, and new job creation.
Zest is not the first success SAEDS has had with cluster development. It has supported entrepreneurs by testing and scaling several support programs including the Salmon Arm Business Support Hub, and the Salmon Arm Innovation Centre. The Economic Trust of Southern BC (ETSI-BC) helped fund the Innovation Centre and recognizing Zest’s value as an economic generator it also provided grant funding to support the hub’s activation and expansion phase.
Zest Expansion is a Priority in the Region’s Cluster Development Strategy
The initiative is a priority within Salmon Arm’s Five-Year Economic Development Action Plan (2020-2025). Zest is linked to the production of 50 unique products from sausages to bakery items, beverages, and sauces. When the expansion is complete, its anchor tents will increase from four to six and a shared-used commercial kitchen will accommodate up to 15 additional food processors. The shared-use cold storage “reefer” will also be activated to increase storage capacity for both growers and processors.
“Food hubs provide opportunities for new partnerships between farmers, processors and retailers,” points out Renata King, Project Consultant for ETSI-BC. “This project will allow existing Zest users to expand their production and explore additional value-added opportunities, attract new businesses to the region, enhance regional food security, and create resilience and growth in the post-COVID economy.”
“We would not have been able to expand Zest in such a timely way without the support of ETSI-BC,” says Lana Fitt, Economic Development Manager for SAEDS. “Once the facility is fully outfitted, we can move into other areas of regional food system development such as food safety training programs and collaborative purchasing programs. This is only the beginning!”
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.