CFEK has a mandate to foster diverse and resilient communities through Community Economic Development projects and initiatives. Primarily, we achieve this objective by providing financial support to small businesses and entrepreneurs in the form of repayable loans. Each year, a portion of the interest earned from the loans that we provide is reinvested into the communities that we serve, through organizations such as the Chambers of Commerce, funding projects or programs that aim to enhance the local economy. 

Current Projects

  • Cranbrook Chamber of Commerce Business Walk 2016 was a great success! CFEK provided financial support for the walk and staff participated as canvassers who met with 118 businesses on June 28th. Check out the Cranbrook Chamber website for updates from the walk, including comments from the businesses and common themes.
  • Elk Valley Economic Initiative. The Elk Valley Economic Initiative has members representing the City of Fernie, the District of Sparwood, the District of Elkford, the Tobacco Plains Indian Band as well as the communities’ Chambers of Commerce and industry.

The purpose of the Initiative is to collaboratively pursue regional economic development projects and initiatives in the Elk Valley striving to expand opportunities for existing businesses, attract new ones and diversify the types of businesses.  In addition, we aim to increase the number of permanent, full-time residents who spend their money locally thereby contributing to the region’s sustainability.

  • Tobacco Plains Indian Band is undertaking the development of a Comprehensive Community Plan to identify and create employment, community and economic development opportunities.

The Community and Economic Development Department works to strengthen the Tobacco Plains Indian Band, our members and community, by developing an economy that is in harmony with our traditions and values, and achieves our goals for self-sustainability and employment.

Modeled after CBC’s “The Dragons’ Den”, where qualifying entrepreneurs pitch their business idea to a group of potential investors, Junior Dragons’ Den is a Columbia Basin wide initiative and call to action for student entrepreneurs from Grade 8 to College level, to create their own summer job/ business, or to expand an existing one.