ETSI-BC Helps Build Economic Development Capacity in BC`s Southern Interior

ETSI-BC Helps Build Economic Development Capacity in BC`s Southern Interior

May 20, 2021

May 20, 2021 | News

Nine recipients ranging from First Nations and municipalities to tourism associations and community-led societies throughout the Southern Interior of BC. have just been awarded a portion of $305,000 in funding for economic development projects from ETSI-BC – the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior. Funding ranged from $13K to the maximum of $50K. This tranche of funding was the first to be allocated as per ETSI-BC`s new Strategic Plan, which was launched on April 1, 2021.

“Our team and Board are delighted to share this news,” said Laurel Douglas, CEO, ETSI-BC. “Each project will contribute to our main Strategic Pillar, to build economic development capacity in our region. Approved projects are taking place in 7 of the 9 Regional Districts in the Southern Interior, including the Fraser Valley, Thompson-Nicola, Okanagan Similkameen, Central Okanagan, Central Kootenay, Kootenay Boundary, and the Columbia Shuswap.”

The 9 economic development projects cover a broad range including tourism and industrial development to value-added food processing and transportation development. The focus of this Funding Stream is to support smaller/rural communities to build economic development capacity and to support regional partnerships throughout the Southern Interior.

“ETSI-BC wants to serve as a catalyst for new economic development initiatives, knowing that sometimes a community needs a first-in funder to seed projects and encourage other funders,” said Douglas. “The outcomes from these nine projects will be as diverse as our region`s communities, but growing their local economy is a common goal for them all.”

ETSI-BC Building Economic Development Capacity Funding Stream approved projects:

City of Merritt – Industrial Park Development Plan

Town of Oliver – Downtown Beautification and Wayfinding Project

Boston Bar Indian Band – Fraser Canyon Tourism Signage Project

Boundary Community Ventures Association – Facilitating Meat Value-Added Production in the Boundary

Friends of Pulpit Rock Society – Whitewater Trails

Peachland Historic School – Accessible Plaza Society Historic School Plaza

Village of Salmo – Salmo Community Owned and Operated Bus Initiative (SCOOBI)

Tourism Golden Association – Tourism Golden 5-Year Strategic Planning

District of Lake Country – Scenic Sip Wine & Eats

On May 28, 2021, ETSI-BC will be opening its Spring Funding Intake which will be providing opportunities for First Nations, rural communities, and other non-profits to submit applications for economic development projects that build capacity within their communities. Application deadline will be June 18, 2021.

We’d love to hear from you!

201 – 460 Doyle Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 0C2
Phone: 236-420-3680 ext. 0
info@etsi-bc.ca

More News & Stories

AI Workshops for Economic Developers

Join us for a series of three one-hour online workshops to introduce economic developers to the transformative power of artificial intelligence (AI) and its practical applications in economic development.

Network of Economic Development Practitioners Growing in the Thompson-Okanagan with the Help of ETSI-BC

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

ETSI-BC Injects Over $800,000 to Fuel Economic Growth Across Southern Interior

December 9, 2024 – This season, communities in BC’s Southern Interior have a reason to celebrate. On December 6, 2024, the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) approved $804,230 in funding to support 26 innovative projects worth $2.4M that will help grow and diversify the economy of the Southern Interior of BC.

ETSI-BC Spring 2025 Funding Intake Opens March 10

December 3, 2024 – ETSI-BC is pleased to announce Spring Funding Intake is open March 10 – April 11, 2025.

Grow and connect Interior Bolsters Access to Local Food Across the Region

November 21, 2024 – ETSI-BC is delighted to announce new developments in the Grow and Connect Food Supply Chain initiative serving BC’s Southern Interior. As a funding partner, we’re helping local farmers and producers overcome transportation costs and other barriers to get their products into regional stores and restaurants, making local food more accessible throughout the Interior.

Oliver’s Station Street Plaza Plan Drives Downtown Revitalization

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).

District of Elkford Puts New Economic Development Strategy into Action

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.

Mitacs Research Projects Receive Extra Support from ETSI-BC

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.

A New Independent Development Corporation Signals Major Growth for Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc

With a new economic development structure and brand, the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc (formerly the Kamloops Indian Band) is changing the economic landscape of its 1,700-member community. An outcome from the Tk’emlups te Secwepemc (TteS) strategic plan is the creation of Sc.wén̓wen Economic Development Corporation, which increases the band’s capacity to pursue and support more diverse, larger scale projects. This increased capacity is being marketed through a new branding campaign, created with support from the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).

Peachland Pursues Downtown Revitalization to Keep Pace with Growth

After years of record development and building activity, the Okanagan community of Peachland is nearing completion of a Downtown Redevelopment Implementation Strategy. The plan, to be completed this fall, will reinvigorate the downtown area, preserving what residents value most while optimizing available land for its highest and best use. The project is supported by the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC).