The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) has supported public post-secondary institutions (PSIs) in the Southern Interior of BC since 2008 with funding of over $7 million. With the launch of its new Strategic Plan in April 2021, funding is now being provided to encourage entrepreneurship and to support post-secondary institutions as they help businesses in the region hire local students and graduates.
In FY2022, ETSI-BC supported 6 new projects worth $105,000 in this new area of focus, Developing Human Capital. “ETSI-BC understands the importance of entrepreneurship for students and graduates. Not only is it an increasingly viable career option that helps create jobs and economic activity, but entrepreneurship skills are also highly transferable,” said Laurel Douglas, CEO of ETSI-BC.
ETSI-BC is continuing to serve as a catalyst for new economic development initiatives with this funding. Here are details of the recent projects:
Post-Secondary Projects
| Organization Name | Project Name | Funding | Project Summary |
| College of the Rockies | Entrepreneurship and Innovation Office & Coordinator | $12,500 | Provide business development resources for students, staff and local entrepreneurs. |
| Nicola Valley Institute of Technology | Co-op Employment Preparation | $5,000 | Students will develop pre-employability skills and participate in a 4-month work placement with employers who will receive a wage subsidy through the co-op program. |
| Okanagan College | Enactus OC – Experiential Entrepreneurship Learning Project | $25,000 | Fostering student entrepreneurship and the development of the next generation of business leaders and change makers through Enactus. |
| Selkirk College | Entrepreneurship skills & Building the Outdoor Rec Sector | $12,500 | Students will connect classroom skills to entrepreneurship and support companies to commercialize new products and services. |
| Thompson Rivers University | Tourism Innovation Lab | $25,000 | Students will develop an innovative tourism product through research and industry mentorship. |
| UBC Okanagan | e@UBC Support | $25,000 | Students, staff and recent graduates benefit from training and mentorship support as they explore start-up ideas and build connections within the Okanagan innovation ecosystem. |
“Our mission at ETSI-BC is to support economic development projects that will have long-lasting and measurable impacts,” says ETSI-BC CEO Laurel Douglas. “The outcomes of these Post-Secondary projects will assist the business community in our region by generating more skilled prospective employees and new ventures.”