Communities in the Southern Interior of British Columbia have a reason to celebrate this winter season, including Invermere, Kimberley and Creston.

The Economic Trust of the Southern Interior (ETSI-BC) just announced the successful applicants of its Fall Funding Intake and has awarded over $522K in funding to support 27 projects that will help build and diversify the region’s economy. Project partners include local governments, First Nations, industry groups, Chambers of Commerce, Community Futures, and non-profit organizations in BC’s Southern Interior.

“This month, we have approved over $1.1 million in funding, together with the Regional Transportation Enhancement (RTE) Funding Program also announced today. This brings our funding support to communities and First Nations in the Southern Interior to over $3 million this fiscal year. In total, 104 projects worth over $6 million have been approved this year, which will help create or maintain over 7,000 jobs in the Southern Interior of BC,” said CEO, Laurel Douglas. “We are so proud of the transformative value this funding has on our Southern Interior communities.

Projects approved in this Funding Intake will be carried out by three First Nations and in communities in all nine Regional Districts in the ETSI-BC service area, including the East Kootenay, Central Kootenay, Kootenay Boundary, Columbia Shuswap, Central Okanagan, Fraser Valley, North Okanagan, Okanagan Similkameen, and Thompson-Nicola Regional Districts.

Since re-launching in April 2021, ETSI-BC has approved $7.7 million in grant funding in support of its Strategic Pillars. This funding has supported projects valued at over $17 million and has helped create or maintain almost 18,000 jobs in the region.

“On behalf of the ETSI-BC Board, I am delighted to share this news,” said Sharon Shepherd, ETSI-BC Board Chair. “These initiatives will help enhance economic development capabilities within our communities, foster innovation, and facilitate progress in critical sectors of our regional economy.”

Douglas added, “We’re proud of the impact we’re making in the Southern Interior and can’t wait to see these worthwhile projects be brought to fruition. The following is a list of projects approved in the ETSI-BC 2023 Fall Funding Intake.

ETSI-BC, the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior, was created in 2006 with a $50 million endowment from the Province of BC 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.

Lead image: Downtown Invermere. e-KNOW file photo

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