Imagine Kootenay (formerly Invest Kootenay) has a 13-year history of connecting investment opportunity holders (e.g. businesses) with investors from within the region, nationally and internationally. As the first of its kind in rural BC, this successful model of regional collaboration has been recognized by the provincial government, economic development professionals, and been replicated across the province. 
Twelve Partner Communities are now involved in Imagine Kootenay (IK). Partner communities include; Boundary Country, Castlegar, Columbia Valley, Elk Valley, Golden, Kimberley, Creston Valley – Kootenay Lake, Nakusp, Nelson, Revelstoke, and Trail, Rossland and Area.
The ‘First Points of Contact’ in each community promote IK within their community and liaise with opportunity holders, help promote them with IK and to support these opportunities to be investor ready. Each Partner Community contributes to IK through a partner fee that is based on their population.
IK is administered by Community Futures Central Kootenay (CFCK), and governed by a Steering Committee including a representative from each Partner Community. The program is managed by two staff, a 0.8 Program Manager and 0.4 Coordinator. These staff members are responsible for the implementation of program strategy and marketing campaigns as well as supporting the First Points of Contact in each community with program and capacity development.