Golden Timber Frames – financing August, 2009
Golden Timber Frames specializes in state-of-the-art, highly automated, timber frame manufacturing. GTF’s operations divide into two main activities: sales and manufacturing. The sales component will involve the marketing and promotion of GTF’s timber frame construction and related design services for the sale of its timber frame structures to other business concerns engaged in building construction. GTF will offer a premium timber frame product and value-added services at competitive prices which is expected to allow the company to quickly assume a dominant position in the timber frame segment of the residential housing and commercial construction markets.
Community Futures North Okanagan – Grant $29,822
The overall goal of this project is to support rural economic diversification of the Okanagan Valley economy through the development of a new on-line business service that will connect businesses to one another, connect the business organizations together, and connect the existing business services for the purpose of: supplying and purchasing, providing businesses assistance services such as human resource information, peer (cluster) support, labour market training, and offering inbound investors an opportunity to view the Okanagan business community.
Centre for Innovation in Ranching - TRU - Grant $150,000
This project funded the purchase of 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. The economic benefits are: 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; improved ranching practices that increase profitability; improved range management; more accessible and economically viable provincial animal harvesting operations; more value added meat products that are tested and brought to market; and new ranching technologies brought to market.
Gold Country Geotourism – Grant $35,000
Gold Country Communities Society developed and implemented a Geotourism program to attract visitors to the Gold Country Region. Geotourism is the modern treasure hunt with a twist, combining the outdoor adventure and sport activities of geocaching and orienteering, with an exploration aspect of historical and cultural education. The introduction of the Geotourism Program helped communities within the region to reduce their reliance on the forest industry by growing local revenue through increased tourism traffic, multiplying overnight stays and augmenting opportunities for new businesses and services.
Kootenay Aboriginal Business Advocates Society (KABAS) – Grant $25,000
KABAS funding is based on KABAS’ demonstrated ability to diversify the regional economy and its assistance of Aboriginal businesses to support economic development.
590335 B.C. Ltd. Operating as Regal Ridge, Osoyoos - Financing May 2009
Regal Ridge is a world-class acreage development, unique in design and originality, unprecedented in size. Overlooking the southern-most part of British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley half of its 8000 acres is dedicated as a conservation area. The remaining land is laid out in clusters of 3-acre lots that combine privacy, natural surroundings and unique vistas. Regal Ridge has been meticulously planned to preserve the integrity of the natural environment, yet provide building sites that take full advantage of the spectacular panoramic views. Special attention has been given to preserving wildlife trees and ponds, and providing additional eco-attractions. This unprecedented dedication of approximately 3,000 acres as a conservation area and wildlife corridor means that the unique natural beauty of the area will remain for generations.
As designed this project will restore/create a healthy ecosystem and carbon sink on degraded forest lands on Anarchist Mountain surrounding the Regal Ridge community through a forestation. The project involves planting a mix of tree species as well as local shrubs and under story plants. This will supplement the existing natural regeneration, but in a much more evenly distributed fashion, and will bias the species mix toward a more ecologically appropriate and robust configuration.
Signalink Technologies Inc., Kelowna – Financing May 2009
Signalink is an innovative power line communications company presently focused on the Fire Protection, Security and Medical Alert industries. Signals are sent over the power line, with or without AC power on. The company’s core platform will be used to deploy their launch product called FIRE-LINK®, which is a supplemental fire signalling system targeting multi-tenant residential buildings.
Signalink designs, manufactures and sells networking technology that uses a building’s existing electrical wiring as their backbone. The products solve the lack of communication typical in buildings that prevent them from implementing energy management and modernizing infrastructure. Applications include fire detection and alarms, HVAC controls, lighting controls, presence detection, security monitoring and medical device monitoring.
Signalink’s true differentiator lies not in a particular product but in the comprehensive platform that delivers control of a building’s core infrastructure and systems. This cohesive platform allows the company to “capture” an entire building and sell a full range of products with minimal incremental cost to the building owner beyond new hardware. By partnering with key service providers, energy management in the building can be extended to grid based Demand/Response to reach loads never before accessible in more than 8 million buildings. This many buildings reducing energy by up to 30% means millions of tons of green house gases never get produced and the buildings save on energy cost and even get paid to shed load during peak demand.
Pryme Group Imagery Inc., Kelowna - Financing April 2009
Pryme Group Imagery Inc. manufactures and distributes canvas giclée artwork reproductions for the fine art and memorabilia industries. By definition giclée, a term coined in the 1990’s, refers to the process of making fine art prints from a digital source using ink-jet printing. Canvas giclée is used in the fine art industry to create additional revenue by reproducing successful original works and marketing them in limited editions.
Pryme Group Imagery Inc describes itself as a profitable, growing company with cutting-edge proprietary image processes; a building collection of original artworks; a growing and established position in memorabilia sales; substantive technical expertise; and experienced.
Friends of Fort Steele Society, Cranbrook - Grant $20,000
This project provided funding to develop a Heritage Trades Cooperative for 4 trade areas – Blacksmith, Harness Maker, Tinsmith and Textile production and create a Marketing Cooperative to market and sell authentic heritage and contemporary wares both on-site and on-line. Marketing costs include set-up and construction of a Fort Steele On-line Product catalogue for on-line sales. Renovation of 2 buildings on site to accommodate heritage trades production/retail/rental shops and an ice-cream parlour/soda shop was also included.
The Shuswap Hut & Trail Alliance (SHTA), Shuswap – Grant $150,000
The vision of SHTA is to develop a regional trail network of lasting ecological, social and local economic value. It is also a vision of growing trail-minded communities committed to active lifestyles through transportation, recreation, and business. The Alliance recognizes that the health of the natural ecology of the region serves as the foundation for a thriving community both socially and economically; and that the proposed trail will contribute to the sustainability of the natural ecology through enhancing human understanding and appreciation of the environment. This in turn creates a new foundation from which to generate both social and economic activity. The trail network builds on existing recreational amenities that attract people to live and/or vacation in the Shuswap area; and thereby contributes to ongoing social and economic diversification important to sustaining local communities.
West Kootenay Herb Growers Co-operative, Edgewood – Grant $13,555
This project provided funding for the purchase and modification of 2 portable cabinet dryer units and renovation of an existing structure to house an existing cabinet dryer, botanical herb processing activities and materials and inventory storage. The West Kootenay Herb Growers Co-operative (WKGHC) entered into an agreement to provide dried/processed herbs to a Natural Health Product Manufacturer. The WKHGC strives to provide the highest quality, naturally grown herbs possible. Being able to dry the herbs quickly and efficiently is key to this concept. The WKHGC represents growers from the Arrow Lakes area (Edgewood, Fauquier, Nakusp) and the Slocan Valley/South Slocan areas (Slocan, Slocan Park, Vallican, and Nelson, Creston).
SIDIT supports "The Green Dream Home" project.
$100,000. Grant funded April 2009.
Kamloops, B.C. Canadian Home Builders Association Central Interior and Thompson Rivers University awarded CMHC’s EQuilibrium™ Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiative.
MP Cathy McLeod and representatives from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) BC and Ottawa announced February 2009 that the Canadian Home Builders Association Central Interior and Thompson Rivers University were one of three successful submissions in Canada for the second phase of CMHC’s EQuilibrium™ Sustainable Housing Demonstration Initiatives in Canada. The CHBA CI and TRU partnership will build an eco-friendly home that is net zero, which means it will generate as much energy as it consumes so that there are no energy costs to the homeowner.
CHBA CI was successful in securing a $100,000 grant from the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust (SIDIT) to offset some of the extra technology and marketing costs for this ambitious project.
Luby Pow, CEO of SIDIT said, “SIDIT is very pleased to support the Green Dream Home Project as it encourages the development and usage of energy and environmentally sustainable products and matches hands on training of students with new green technology in home building.”
Complete Home Energy Ltd., Kelowna
SIDIT financing April 2009.
Complete Home Energy Ltd. is a leading energy efficiency residential and commercial renovation company. SIDIT financing will assist the company to provide a variety of energy efficient renovations to approximately 400 homes in the Greater Okanagan and Cranbrook areas.
Delta C. Technologies Inc., Salmon Arm
SIDIT Loan advanced March 2009.
SIDIT financing will enhance and leverage an existing 20 year business in the areas of local and regionalized manufacturing through acquisition of an electronics board manufacturer and technology product enhancements company. Expansion of this business model will result in further diversifying the existing Crude Oil and Gas Market focus into growing International market focus.
Waveteq Communications Inc., Lake Country
Credit Facilities March 2009.
Waveteq Communications Inc. is an Okanagan Valley based manufacturer of an innovative and highly cost effective wireless solution that enables the deployment of advanced fixed and portable communications networks for wireless internet service providers, municipal districts, industry networks and value added resellers. SIDIT was pleased to advance the first tranche of funding to assist the company is accelerating their sales program, provide additional working capital for growth and to accelerate their software engine development program.
Always “On” UPS Systems Inc., Kelowna
SIDIT Loan advanced March 2009.
SIDIT was pleased to provide loan financing for this established company that designs and manufactures high quality Uninterruptible Power Supplies and Power Conditioning Products.
SIDIT funds will assist the company with working capital for growth, acceleration of sales and product development programs.
Mrs. Palmer’s Pantry, Cranbrook
$126,600. Loan financing approved December 2008
SIDIT is very pleased to provide financial assistance for this Cranbrook based gourmet food manufacturer. Financing will assist the company to complete the equipment purchases necessary to increase production capacity for a product in high demand.
For the past 30 months, the company has focused on marketing/producing their healthy, nutritional Pita Chip line for high-end retail outlets and supermarkets in BC, Alta. and US markets. The Pita Chip snack has recently been approved in the highest category (Choose Most) under the BC Government’s revised guidelines for products approved for sale in BC schools and public buildings.
Grand Forks Art Gallery & Cultural Museum Project, Grand Forks
$75,000. grant funded December 2008.
Grant funding completed December 2008 to support the Grand Forks Art Gallery & Cultural Museum project which is designed to build the region’s cultural tourism sector and enhance the arts and culture in the region.
British Columbia Community Forest Association, Kaslo
$10,000. grant December 2008
Grant funding for this new BC Community Forest Association project will assist First Nations & rural communities identify the unique characteristics of community forests in the marketplace.
By building their capacity to access high value specialty markets, the project will help communities diversify their community forest enterprises.
Fly YXC Alliance Society, Kimberley
$186,000. grant December 15, 2008
SIDIT grant provided vital support to complete the Alliance’s agreement with Delta Air Lines to fly non-stop between Salt Lake City and the newly expanded Cranbrook airport.
The success of the expanded airport is critical to the growth of tourism and businesses throughout the region. All of the communities in the East Kootenay will be impacted by the new air service and the new markets, expanded opportunities will bring an increased growth and stability to the area.
Sounds of Light Multicultural Society’s Vertical Log Timber Home Prototype, Enderby
$95,000. grant November 28, 2008.
The first $30,000. of a $95,000. grant was awarded to the Sounds of Light Multicultural Society for the completion of a Vertical Timber Log Home as the prototype for an affordable housing alternative November 28, 2008.
The Sounds of Light Multicultural Society meets three unique needs in the community. It offers disadvantaged or disabled youth a place to learn skills to secure future employment; it uses beetle kill pine trees that would otherwise simply go through the wood chipper; and it uses that resource in a unique patented way, building vertical log homes as an affordable housing alternative.
Venture Kamloops Business Development Society
$15,000. grant funded September 18, 2008
SIDIT grant supports Venture Kamloops’ International Market Development Initiative. In an effort to diversify, be globally competitive and support the sustainability of the Kamloops economy, Venture Kamloops successfully completed two international economic development initiatives.
Okanagan Research and Innovation Centre (ORIC)
$150,000. grant announced September 17, 2008 for Okanagan Business Incubator
SIDIT announced major contribution towards a new high-tech business incubator to be opened in Kelowna. ORIC’s mission is to seek out promising start-up companies and support them as they grow into successful businesses providing high-paying jobs and helping create a stronger economy for the Okanagan region.
Kootenay Aboriginal Business Advocates Society (KABAS)
$75,000. grant September 15, 2008 – 3 year funding.
First $25,000. annual instalment presented to KABAS at the September 15, 2008 media announcement. SIDIT’s decision to fund KABAS was based on KABAS’ demonstrated ability to diversify the regional economy and its assistance of Aboriginal businesses to support economic development.
Christina Lake Ecological Centre for the Arts
$150,000. grant announced September 5, 2008
SIDIT announced support for the Christina Lake Ecological Centre for the Arts project with a $150,000. grant. The Christina Lake project will make a significant contribution to the sustainability and diversity of the local economy.
Myra Canyon Tourism Promotion Project
$20,223. grant, May 27, 2008
SIDIT’s investment by way of a $20,223. grant will help fund information kiosks, signage and brochures. As an internationally recognized tourist attraction, Myra Canyon makes a significant contribution to the regional economy.
Kettle Valley Railway Society
$30,000. grant May 26, 2008
$30,000. grant announced for the Kettle Valley Railway to assist in facility upgrades. SIDIT is pleased to support one of the premier tourist attractions in the region which makes a significant contribution to the local economy.
RFind Systems Inc., Kelowna -
$350K Convertible Debenture, March 25, 2008
SIDIT Investment provided for commercialization and market expansion of RFind’s real-time locating system (RTLS) which allows for tracking & locating assets in real time.
Waveteq Communications Inc., Lake Country -
$350K Convertible Debenture, March 25, 2008
SIDIT’s Investment will assist this Okanagan based manufacturer in commercialization of the ShadowMaster in the global market and expansion of their Innovative Wireless Technologies with the introduction of new products.
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