The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), has provided funding to 18 different business support organizations, local governments, and First Nations communities in BC’s Southern Interior through the Province of BC’s Rural Business and Community Recovery Initiative.  A total of $1.3 million has been provided to 18 communities and non-profit business support organizations.

Funding for the FIR Program is part of the $185-million support package announced in Budget 2022 to ensure that co-ordinated and comprehensive supports are in place to offset any economic impacts from a changing forestry industry. It’s part of the Province’s StrongerBC Economic Plan. The FIR Program will assist rural communities in the Southern Interior of BC with populations under 25,000 and non-profit business support organizations serving those communities. The grants will help fund a mix of 21 full- and part-time contract positions.

Organization	FIR Advisor
Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce	Robyn Cyr
Barriere, District of	Lianne Hamblin
Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce	Andrew Zwicker
Castlegar and District Chamber of Commerce	Christina Allen
	Michael Hoher
Clearwater, District of
Community Futures Central Interior First Nations	Chasity Jones
Community Futures Central Kootenay	Amber McGregor
Community Futures Revelstoke	Carolyn Gibson
Community Futures Sun Country	Arnice Asquin
Community Futures Thompson Country	Deanna Pidcock
Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce	Riley Wilcox
	Jerry Ericsson
Interior Logging Association	Meagan Preston
Kootenay Employment Services Society	Shana Riordan
Lumby and District Chamber of Commerce	Merissa Holland
Merritt & District Chamber of Commerce	Laurie Turmel
Nakusp and Area Development Board	Dawn Driscoll
Neskonlith Indian Band	Craig Kennedy
Regional District of Central Okanagan