The Castlegar Chamber of Commerce needed a new economic development tool that would help the organization better support the community’s existing businesses and support its capacity to grow. The unique customer relationship management system (CRM), developed by the Castlegar Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the BC Economic Development Association (BCEDA), has enabled key information to be gathered and analysed, as part of the Chamber’s Business Retention and Attraction Strategy, which was supported by the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).

After more than a decade helping entrepreneurs start up and grow, the Kamloops Innovation business accelerator has a new name, brand and communications plan to help broaden its reach throughout the Thompson, Nicola and Cariboo regions. Its new brand as the Central Interior Business Accelerator (CIBA) demonstrates its commitment to its entire region to help build entrepreneurial capacity and pave the way for more small and medium-sized businesses to adopt technology, increase productivity and efficiency, and retain and create jobs. The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) provided funding for this re-branding and strategic communications project.

Read more about Robyn Cyr and the Thompson-Okanagan EDPN.

The Town of Oliver is advancing its downtown revitalization efforts with an updated Station Street Plaza Plan. The project aims to transform underutilized land into a mixed-use area with housing and businesses. This initiative, part of a broader economic development strategy, seeks to create a vibrant community hub and attract new residents and businesses to the town center. The project was supported during FY2024 with funding from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).

From its beginnings as a mining town in the early 1970s on the eastern edge of the Kootenays, Elkford is now home to diverse businesses, adventure tourism and a high quality of life. To manage the area’s growth and to develop emerging sectors, the District of Elkford recently created an Economic Development Strategy that builds on years of community planning and research. The ambitious project, carried out with support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC), is already having positive impacts and will serve the community for years to come.

The Economic Trust of Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) is delighted to announce the nine successful grant recipients that will receive funding in 2024 through our funding partnership with Mitacs. These grants support collaborative research initiatives that help solve local issues while also encouraging collaboration between the region’s public post-secondary institutions and our businesses and local governments.