FreshTec Systems Canada Inc. & Innovative Food Systems Corp. – financing September 2011
These companies will market and sell a revolutionary fruit, vegetable and fresh-cut flower packaging system that provides for transport of ripe ready-to-eat produce in a food safe application. The Smart Pac/Fresh Span modified atmosphere packaging system has the capability of preserving ripe fruit and vegetable and cut-flower for periods of 21 to 45 days depending upon the product. This provides tremendous opportunity for local producers to access high value Asian and European markets with premium products at lower transportation costs.
Pareto Platform Inc. – financing September 2011
Pareto Platform, an existing technology company and ISV partner with Microsoft, is expanding their operations to capitalize on the momentum they have in place with new and existing clients as well as strategic alliances. Pareto Platform is a leading provider of client relationship management dashboard and workflow solutions that addresses all of the needs of today's wealth management professionals.
Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club – Nordic Trails Improvement - $50,000 Grant
The Revelstoke Nordic Ski Club has made strategic investments of over $800,000 over the last 2 years to further enhance the quality of the cross country skiing experience. The Club's existing trail network, though fairly extensive, is limited in its ability to provide shorter distance loop trails from the Day Lodge. The Club is creating 1 km and 2.5 km loop trails off of their premier beginner trail in order to hold regional and provincial level cross country ski races as these events require shorter loop trails. Hosting race events can be a substantial economic generator for the community.
University of British Columbia – Biotechnology Resources - $50,000 Grant
This grant will assist researchers to take prototypes to field test, market and distribute products based on current laboratory-scale technologies to improve the efficiency of the agricultural water use in the Okanagan. The project will introduce new drought tolerant rootstock genotypes to the wine industry and provide a novel portable kit for early drought stress detection. The goal is to improve both water use efficiency and irrigation management practices with respect to both timing and quantity of water used for grapevine berry production.
North Thompson Fall Fair & Rodeo Association – Agriplex Project - $50,000. Grant
The North Thompson Agriplex is the Regional Agriplex for the Barriere region. The Agriplex provides key services to people and businesses from Blue River in the north, to Heffley Creek in the south. The Agriplex project lays the foundation for future agricultural events, thereby allowing for increased usage of land space and the potential for increased agricultural business revenues such as horse events, livestock shows, trade shows, auctions, and other community events such as concerts. More importantly it provides a stepping stone for a more generalized use of the facilities. This in turn, means increased commercial opportunities for the North Thompson Fall Fair & Rodeo Association to attract new revenue streams thereby strengthening the association's financial stability and creating an increased demand for agricultural and support services.
Selkirk College – Count Me In: Selkirk College Studio 80 Revitalization Project - $50,000. Grant
Selkirk College launched the "Count Me In" campaign to raise $150,000 for the revitalization of the college's performance and rehearsal studio (Studio 80). The funds will enable the college to replace the existing 80 well-worn seats with 108 new seats and to buy and install new lighting and sound equipment. With these funds, the studio will be elevated from 'functional' and 'antiquated' to 'state-of-the-art'. This upgrade will benefit both performers and the audience. Their intent is to offer quality instruction to the maximum number of students applying to the Selkirk College Contemporary Music and Technology program, create seasonal and part-time employment for technical engineer/s, enhance the audience experience and comfort, and offer quality rental performance or seminar/lecture space for organizations in the arts and business communities. The studio is in the basement of the student residence which is currently being renovated and will house 103 beds. The dorms along with the theatre are potential draws for conference services. Rental profit will be used to upgrade equipment and create up to 1.5 job positions, either part-time or seasonal full time. The building and land are currently being leased from the City of Nelson and this project is fully supported by the City.
Boundary Sawmills Inc. - financing February 2011
The Boundary communities of Midway, Greenwood, Area E and Rock Creek are raising $8.4 million to purchase the vacant Pope & Talbot mill operations in Midway. The mill will be the largest direct and indirect employer in the Boundary area. Direct economic benefits are the increased tax base, providing valuable silviculture to the region’s wood supply and being the catalyst for several new businesses in the area.
Kelowna Visual and Performing Arts Centre Society- financing February 2011
The Kelowna Visual and Performing Arts Centre Society is a not-for-profit society that operates the Rotary Centre for the Arts as a multipurpose arts facility. The Society raises funds by donations and special events. The Society is purchasing a Bistro which is housed in the facility which will generate revenues to sustain the long term operation of the Rotary Centre for the Arts.
Southern Interior Beetle Action Coalition – grant $50,000
Log homes and timber frame buildings are marquee value-added products of BC. Studies have concluded that with additional assistance there is significant opportunity for industry expansion. The BC Log Home & Timber Building Industry Association has identified insulation rating and carbon footprint issues as the most critical immediate issues to securing key markets. This project is to specifically fund the insulation factor testing and carbon footprint calculation components of log home and timber frame buildings. This project will assist the industry in maintaining and developing markets; help the industry expand and ultimately help in expanding this value -added sector.
Harrop–Procter Community Co-Operative, Procter - $50,000.
This is a ‘Growing Community Forestry’ initiative to establish a wood products manufacturing operation. This project will develop and diversify their business scope, increasing small business capacity through planning, researching and installing the most viable configuration for a manufacturing plant and integrating the new manufacturing operations with existing business functions.
O’Keefe Ranch, Vernon - $50,000.
The objective of this project is to enhance the sustainability of the O’Keefe Ranch Heritage Site by generating revenues to the Ranch from sources other than entrance fees. It includes the construction of 10 dry camping sites (no services), overnight RV parking and extended parking for special events.
Women’s Enterprise Centre, Kelowna - $7,000.
This is an initiative designed to assist women to develop their leadership presence in their business and community. Participants will develop their leadership skills, become more comfortable in the spotlight and be able to deliver their messages with strong scripts and a dynamic presence.
Black Jack Cross Country Ski Club - $50,000 Grant Oct 2010
The Black Jack Ski Club is positioning itself as a premiere Nordic destination, benefiting from an extended ski season due to its high elevation and abundant snowfall. This project will substantially improve the quality of ski experience for club members, tourist, and elite athletes by improving the quality, reliability and efficiency of trail grooming. This in turn allows for expansion to attract large and International venues to the Trail area.
BC Ventures Society- New Ventures BC Competition -$50,000 Grant Oct 2010
The New Ventures BC Competition is a regional competition aimed at new business in the SIDIT region. This is a launch of a new competition that will stimulate new company creation as well as business development of existing technology companies, leading to economic diversification of local SIDIT communities.
Community Futures Okanagan- Similkameen - Economic Gardening - $29,284 Grant Oct 2010
Community Futures is creating an incubator for organic farming projects in the Okanagan-Similkameen Region. The incubator will connect local businesses with resources and implement a market research tool that will assist in market strategies and increase revenues for local organic farmers and small businesses.
Community Futures Greater Trail – South Kootenay Business Center -$50,000 Grant Oct 2010
The South Kootenay Business Centre (SKBC) is a proposed business incubator that will help mitigate barriers to business by helping young firms survive the vulnerable start-up phase and focus on business development rather than business establishment in a professional, collaborative business environment. The primary goal of the incubator is to foster a new technology cluster by providing start-up and emerging companies with facilities, tools and resources without the normally associated start-up costs.
Britewood Industries Ltd. –financing October 2010
Britewood Industries will produce a high quality horse and animal bedding material and distribute it throughout BC, AB and North Western United States. The facility will be located near Chase BC. It will have specialized equipment constructed and installed that will utilize beetle damaged pine logs or dimensional by-products from saw mills.
GC Green Carbon Inc. –financing September 2010
GC Green Carbon is a new company in Kamloops developing the manufacturing capability of a commercial CO2 gas treatment system for the global market. This project will demonstrate a patent pending system to separate carbon and oxygen from CO2 in compact torch plants and cluster the plants in turnkey systems for large CO2 emitters. This enables companies to avoid emitting their CO2 and conserve their carbon.
Awesense Wireless Inc. –financing September 2010
Awesense Wireless from Kelowna is designing and building solutions that help utility companies identify system losses and power theft. The Awesense system consists of individual wireless nodes that can be quickly distributed within the field, such as a neighbourhood, to help identify key areas of loss or power theft. Awesense has created a unique, non-invasive, accurate wireless power loss detection system that is cost effective and widely scalable.
Valhalla Technologies Inc. - financing July 2010
Valhalla Technologies is a new high tech company in Castlegar that will be producing and manufacturing high purity germanium metal and related products for the advanced infra-red optical market.
International Road Technologies Inc. – financing May, 2010
International Road Technologies is a diverse sale, marketing and consulting company specializing in Environmental Solutions and the Road Transportation Industry at large. Products that are marketed today focus on road safety and the environment, with the company’s primary focus on a new and revolutionary designed gas cap for light duty gasoline vehicles through the automotive aftermarket, the ” Zero leak Gas Cap”. A new “Check, Test and Replace Program” will capture missing, misused or failing gas caps which lead to 108 litres of gasoline per year, per vehicle escaping into the environment.
Rhinokore Composites Ltd. - financing May, 2010
Rhinokore, from Armstrong, represents a breakthrough in engineered composites & composite products. These products, produced for oil and gas, marine applications, oil spill containment and transportation, can function under extreme climate conditions, punishing applications and at the same time meet some of the most rigorous environmental constraints.
City of Kimberley - Operable Wall Project – $50,000 Grant
The City of Kimberley constructed a Conference Centre to diversify its economy to attract Conference, meeting and incentive travel. To offer clients the meeting space appropriate to the size of the event the City proposed installing an operable wall in the Conference Centre ballroom, which would allow the room to be divided into two rooms. The operable wall would allow rental of both sides at the same time.
City of Kimberley – Audio Visual Project – $50,000 Grant
The City of Kimberley constructed a Conference Centre to diversify its economy to attract conference, meeting and incentive travel. The project was to create an Audio Visual Centre of Excellence by equipping each side of the Ballroom and each of the three breakout rooms with an innovative, fixed Audio Visual system.
Enterprising Non-Profits (Enp) - $150,000 Grant
Enp is a partnership of nine funders supporting the development and growth of social enterprises across BC. Enp’s objective is to strengthen the capacity and sustainability of local enterprising non-profit organizations to enhance their contribution to creating healthy communities through improved mission related services, more diverse economies and increased employment opportunities. Three year grant funding is restricted to SIDIT’s service area.
Thompson Rivers University – Centre for Innovation in Ranching - $150,000 Grant
To create a premier research and development institute that will improve the sustainability, viability and profitability of ranching and associated industries and improve the economy of the region. This project funded analytical, testing and development equipment for an interdisciplinary research centre that encompasses the range of economic drivers and product potentials from the pasture to the end product.
Business Development Corporation –Small Business Productivity – $37,500 Grant
Productivity and competitiveness workshops were conducted in Cranbrook. Workshop attendance consisted of 14 companies/organizations and 17 participants in Cranbrook. Diagnostics identified the range of business issues and possible improvements for the companies participating in the diagnostic process.
Christina Lake Chamber of Commerce – Christina Living Arts Centre -$150,000 Grant
The Christina Living Arts Centre project will house a number of artists and artisans providing them with the means to showcase and market their products while attracting increased tourist visits. When completed, this will be Canada’s first LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Artisans Gallery, part of the 6,000 sq ft Centre.
City of Trail – Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital (KBRH) Heliport Project - $50,000 Grant
This heliport allows door-to-door patient transfers between KBRH and the new Interior Heart and Surgical Centre in Kelowna. This creates significant positive impacts across the region through improved medical services.
City of Castlegar – Hazard Beacon Project - $150,000 Grant
The beacon project lays the foundation for future commercial night flights from the airport, thereby allowing for increased emergency service response and the potential for increased airside business such as air courier services, fire protection and other air related industries to develop on the airport lands providing new employment and financial lease activity to the airport.
Invaron Pharmaceuticals Inc. - financing April 2010
Invaron has developed a global pharmaceutical distribution network that rapidly facilitates international brand adoption, specifically orphan drugs for rare diseases. For brands outside of Canada, Invaron has developed a turnkey global distribution system that will rapidly facilitate international adoption of products further enhancing the value proposition. Invaron has effectively leveraged IT into all their systems from manufacturing to promotion to communication therefore allowing their head office to be situated in Kelowna.
Catalyst Healthcare Ltd. - financing March 2010
Catalyst’s eMAR solution is the only Point of Care bar coding technology to ensure 7 rights of medication delivery within residential care facilities. The technology is founded on 3 principles of development, medication safety, inventory management and communication. Catalyst is now positioned to install, implement, train and support its rapidly growing customer bases. Kelowna is their head office location.
SST Wireless Inc. – financing February 2010
SST of Vernon has developed an advanced wireless tire pressure monitoring technology capable of measuring the temperature and pressure to tolerance ideally suited for applications where the economics of fleet management can translate precise tire performance information into financial payback.
VeriCorder Technology Inc. – financing December 2009
VeriCorder is a high-tech company with headquarters and R&D labs in Kelowna. In 2010, VeriCorder will release four software programs through the iPhone App Store, and for enterprise deployment, all designed to make it fast and easy to record, edit and send fully-crafted stories from the field into the newsroom. VeriCorder specializes in integrating mobile software into newsroom systems, allowing reporters to create a television, radio, or web news story, and post it instantly into common playout systems.
AC Global Systems Ltd. – financing December 2009
AC Global of Trail was formed to address the needs of the trucking industry for transport security. AC Global offers an extremely cost effective, integrated GPS tracking and Vehicle Immobilization Technology (VIT). Their VIT system has both Vehicle Slowdown Technology (VST) and Vehicle Disabling Technology (VDT). ACGS offers unique anti-theft, anti-terrorism and fleet management systems.
Vineyard Networks Inc. – financing November 2009
Vineyard Networks from Kelowna, is a developing Enterprise Network Management solution that allows companies to ensure the usage of valuable IT resources are aligned with the company’s business priorities. Vineyard’s solutions save organizations money by reducing IT costs, increasing productivity and organizational security.
Okanagan Research Innovation Council- Phase ll – grant $150,000
ORIC currently operates two highly successful business incubator facilities in the Okanagan Valley. With the specific goal of seeding and accelerating the growth of start-up technology companies and then driving high-tech job creation, the ORIC Kelowna Innovation Centre is Kelowna’s only best-practice aligned technology business incubator offering full residential series to early stage tenant companies in a prime downtown location, as well as virtual support to affiliated start-up and fledgling technology businesses across the Okanagan. As a result of great success and high job creation the facility was expanded with the addition of approximately 5,600 square feet.
Thompson Rivers University Liquid Chromatography Project – grant $50,000
TRU required a Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (LC-MS), to facilitate pure and applied research in support of regional economic development. This is essential analytical equipment with direct applications to a number of industries in Kamloops and the BC Interior, particularly in the pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, agri-foods, and environmental technologies sectors and with direct benefit to small and medium sized enterprises, and encouraging the development of new enterprises.
Fly YXC Alliance Society – grant $50,000
The FLY YXC Alliance requested funding to allow the Society to focus on increasing utilization, partnership marketing and the addition of new flight segments into the Cranbrook airport.
Kamloops Farm Fresh Processing – grant $147,600
This grant is to provide the First Nations Agriculture Association (FNAA) the funds necessary to set up and operate a value added processing facility for locally produced foods in the Kamloops area and train a quality team of food harvesting and processing specialists.
Similkameen Valley Hwy 3-Bridge of Dreams – grant $75,000
Town of Princeton’s Bridge of Dreams project is to reconstruct the last bridge built on the Kettle Valley Railway, located 150 metres from the location of the last spike in the KVR. This is the last gap in the Spirit of 2010 Trail. The objective is to build a bridge that is suitable for non-motorized traffic.
QHR Technologies Inc – financing October, 2009
QHR Technologies Inc. (QHR) is a company specializing in software designed to improve the efficiency of professionals in healthcare and other markets. The company currently offers an integrated Human Resource Information System and an Electronic Medical Records solution. Headquartered in Kelowna, QHR has focused on the business development of promising Canadian technologies to meet the needs of emerging or under-developed markets and is currently one of the largest technology companies in the Southern Interior. The company's forecasted growth and profitability will make it an anchor company for the technology sector in the Southern Interior. QHR will be active in attracting additional capital & talented people to our region and newly developed products will serve Canadian & International markets.
Thermo Matrix Industries Ltd - financing October, 2009
Thermo Matrix Industries was established as the result of an innovative product development initiative driven by the owners. Thermo Matrix delivers a suite of commercial and retail energy solutions that significantly reduce energy demand by way of alternative (green) energy supply and management of that supply. The company has dedicated much of the last two years developing and testing its product line-up. With a total of five market ready products and two in the final stages of development, Thermo Matrix is ready to start selling its technology to broader markets. Even with economic conditions in Canada weakening, green products and initiatives are gaining and becoming the preference of consumers. The last Federal budget provided several financial benefits to being in this field. The Federal Governments Eco-action plan boosts the viability of this area of products. This plan addresses consumer rebates, retrofit, tax credits in the HVAC and plumbing industry. These markets are experiencing an increase in activity and revenue rewards due to government incentives.
Reliant Web Hosting Inc. operating as Tenzing - financing October, 2009
Tenzing specializes in hosting complex Windows, Linux, and Hybrid Internet applications. Over the last ten years it has built up the people, processes, tools, and infrastructure to do this better than anyone else in Canada. SIDIT loan financing funds equipment purchases required to service new contracts and help Tenzing continue its research and development of its advanced, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform. With over 10 years of experience in the industry Tenzing has developed a unique value proposition and a strong competitive position in the industry. An investment in Tenzing is assisting the vision of a strong technology and information services for the Southern Interior.
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