Success Stories
Understand How Community Investment Co-ops Create Impact
Pool Our Capital
Members of the Investment Co-op pool their money together to directly support businesses in their communities that are making an impact.
Finance Local Business
Businesses within our region can apply for financing that works for their unique needs. Approved applicants receive business development guidance, collaborative financing & ongoing support.
Partner For Success
The Investment Co-op leverages our member’s investments with traditional financial institutions to provide the capital your business needs to grow.
Create Community Impact
We direct capital into local businesses that provide economic, social, environmental and community impacts. We believe in doing good while making a profit.
Our Impact by the Numbers
117
Total Co-op Members
$200,000
Dollars Invested in Businesses
$500,000
Dollars Leveraged with Partners
Meet some of the businesses we support
Cedar Ridge Services
Cedar Ridge Services Ltd – providing Lawn & Yard maintenance in Christina Lake and Grand Forks – was born due to the support, expertise and business loan received from West Kootenay Boundary Community Investment Co-op.
WKBCIC provided a life-saving opportunity by having the back of our new business endeavour, plus the low interest rates and flexibility made it easier to get up and running.
We’re now in our fourth year providing our services to the community. We were able to re-invest in the business by acquiring more equipment to make the jobs easier and to be used during regular or unexpected maintenance.
Cedar Ridge introduced Property Checks in 2023 and has plans to expand our type of services even further in 2025, based on needs and feedback from our customer base.
We feel secure with our decision to start this business and most importantly, we can live and work where we proudly call our forever hometown.
-Atiaia Miguel
Owner
Energy Security
Infinity Solar
Our main motivation in starting Infinity Solar Group was to create climate resiliency and power distribution within our communities.
We were attracted to working with the West Kootenay Boundary Community Investment Co-op because they are a community-oriented, non-traditional financing institution. As a start-up, it is very difficult to access capital during the first few years in business. The Investment Co-op was able to offer reasonable terms, a friendly and easy process to work through, and ongoing support with public relations and visibility within the community.
We are proud that we have installed over two megawatts of renewable solar energy throughout the Kootenay Boundary region. This represents an annual CO2 reduction of 15,000 tons annually. We have also created partnerships with 4 local electrical firms in the West Kootenay Boundary region, empowering local professionals with our solar expertise!
We would like to thank the WKB Investment Co-op for believing in us and investing in our success. We wouldn’t be here today without your support.
We’re proud to say that we are Kootenay-owned and operated!
-Eden Yesh
Founder, President & CEO
-Stuart Bilodeau
Founder, Director & Chief Regulatory Officer
Agriculture & Manufacturing
Antidote Processing
” Thanks to the invaluable support from the Investment Co-op, our journey towards economic empowerment and regional development has been nothing short of remarkable. With their strategic funding, our company has been able to amplify its manufacturing capabilities, particularly in the production of pre-roll joints, which has significantly bolstered our revenue streams.
What truly sets this partnership apart is its triple effect on our community. By investing in us, the Investment Co-op not only fueled our growth but also became the catalyst for the success of over 12 craft farmers in our region. Historically, cannabis production has been the backbone of our local economy, these farmers are now empowered to bring their exceptional products to market, thereby fostering a cycle of prosperity for our region.
The Investment Co-op’s commitment to regional economic development goes beyond mere financial assistance; it embodies a shared vision for sustainable growth and community prosperity. Their belief in our potential has propelled our company forward and enriched our community’s fabric. We are immensely grateful for their unwavering support and foresight. Together, we are not just building a business; we are nurturing a thriving ecosystem where innovation, entrepreneurship, and local pride converge to shape a brighter future for us all. ”
-Shannon Ross
Co-Founder, Board Chair
Technology
Tempus 3D
Our vision at Tempus is to build a world class digital manufacturing hub here in the Kootenays. Having the support of the WKB Investment Co-op and other local organizations is vital in achieving this vision. The support WKB has provided us has improved our ability to overcome the structural barriers that exist doing business in the Kootenays.
One of our core beliefs at Tempus is that our success will come from the success of those we work with. To that end we want to be a wealth generator and enabler for our customers, employees, vendors, and financial partners. One of the things that attracted us to WKB was not just the capital, but the connection to the community it brought. We believe that we share a similar mission with the Co-op in that building a strong and diverse economy that is capable of reinvesting wealth into the community is the most sustainable path for the prosperity of the Kootenays.
-Robert Bleier
Founder & CEO
Do you want to create impact in your community?
Contact the West Kootenay Boundary Community Investment Coop and find out how we can help grow your business.