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.
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
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.
Five-Year Plan Strengthens ?aq’am Community Enterprises
?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).
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.