New Funding for 26 Economic Development Projects

December 13, 2022

Communities in the Southern Interior of BC have something to celebrate this season. ETSI-BC, the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior, has just announced the successful applicants of its Fall Funding Intake, and awarded over $543,800 in funding to support 26 projects that will help build and diversify the region’s economy. Project partners include local governments, First Nations and non-profit organizations in BC’s Southern Interior.

“With this latest batch of approved projects, ETSI-BC continues to help grow local economies. Since re-launching as ETSI-BC, we have approved more than $4.5 million in grant funding in support of our 5 Strategic Pillars. These projects have a total value of over $11 million in the region, and they have helped create or maintain more than 7,500 jobs ,” notes Laurel Douglas, CEO of ETSI-BC.

ETSI-BC Fall Funding Intake Approvals by Region
Columbia-Kootenay	$249,800	46%
Thompson-Okanagan	$254,000	47%
Both Regions	$40,000	7%
	$543,800	100%

The impact of ETSI-BC funding can be felt in all corners of the BC Southern Interior. Projects approved in this Funding Intake alone are taking place in three First Nations and all Regional Districts in the Southern Interior, including the Thompson-Nicola, Okanagan Similkameen, Central Okanagan, North Okanagan, Central Kootenay, Kootenay Boundary, East Kootenay, the Columbia Shuswap, and the Fraser Valley.

“On behalf of the ETSI-BC Board, I am delighted to share this news,” said Sharon Shepherd, ETSI-BC Board Chair. “These projects will help build economic development capacity in our communities, support innovation and help advance key sectors of our region’s economy.”

Laurel Douglas added, “We are so proud of the difference we are making all over the Southern Interior and look forward to seeing these exciting projects come to fruition.” Here is a list of projects approved in the ETSI-BC Fall Funding Intake:

PROJECT PARTNER	PROJECT NAME
BC Association of Abattoirs (dba BC Meats)	Building the Meat Cluster in the North Okanagan
Boston Bar Community Charities Association	Boston Bar Economic Opportunities Analysis
Castlegar and District Chamber of Commerce	Castlegar and District Business Retention and Expansion Data Collection and Implementation Project
Chawathil First Nation	Economic Opportunity Analysis
City of Armstrong	Coordinated Downtown Revitalization Plan
City of Revelstoke	Business Retention, Innovation and Transition Tool (BRITT)
Columbia Valley Housing Society	Workforce Housing Project Manager
Community Futures Greater Trail	Beyond the River Campaign
Community Futures North Okanagan	REACH
Cranbrook, City of	Canadian Rockies International Airport Regional Employment Lands
District of Clearwater	Clearwater Wayfinding & Signage
Kakin Resource Corporation	qukin amakis Property
Kamloops Indian Band Development Corporation (KIBDC)	Branding for New Economic Development Entity
Kimberley & District Chamber of Commerce	Kimberley Health Centre Investment Opportunities Analysis
Kootenay Association for Science and Technology	Kootenay Net-Zero Innovation Action Plan
Lumby & District Chamber of Commerce	Lumby Youth – Local Workforce Development
Nakusp and Area Development Board	Grow Arrow Lakes
Naramata Centre Society	Naramata Centre Hospitality & Viticulture Residency Program
Nelson & District Chamber of Commerce	Nelson & Area Cleantech Feasibility Study
Okanagan Falls Winery Association	Digital Marketing Strategy Implementation
Salmon Arm and District Chamber of Commerce	Building the Workforce in Salmon Arm
Small-Scale Meat Producers Association	Southern Interior Butcher Hub Network
South Okanagan Chamber of Commerce	Business Retention Expansion & Relocation Program
South Shuswap Chamber of Commerce	Collaborative Strategic Planning
The Corporation of the City of Vernon	Community Economic Development Service Mapping
Venture Kamloops Economic Development	Collaborative/Regional Workforce Development

For More Information, please contact:

Laurel Douglas, CEO | 236.420.3680 | laurel@etsi-bc.ca

About ETSI-BC

ETSI-BC, the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior, was created in 2006 with a $50 million endowment to assist in the growth and diversification of the economy of the Southern Interior of BC. The Trust is governed by a 13-member Board of Directors, receiving input from Regional Advisory Committees made up of elected officials from both the Thompson-Okanagan and Columbia-Kootenay regions. We add value to the economic development ecosystem and provide funding for projects in four key funding streams:

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