Founded in 2001 when a group of Nelsonites decided they no longer each needed a vehicle, the Kootenay Carshare Cooperative has grown to 325 individual and business members sharing over 20 vehicles in the Kootenay communities of Nelson, Revelstoke, Kaslo, and Kimberley.  Being a member of the Carshare Co-op is less expensive than owning a car for people who drive four days a week or less, it results in fewer emissions, provides the freedom of being able to drive without the commitment of maintaining a vehicle and offers members an opportunity to participate in a strong local community.

The mission of the Nelson & District Credit Union is “Enriching lives locally.”  NDCU has a long history. From cash box to community cornerstone, Nelson, Rossland and the East Shore locations have been the local credit unions for decades. Based on a history as an alternative to the banks, NDCU has grown from a modest beginning to an innovative, community-based financial co-operative. They believe their membership is the key to their success.  In 2010, NDCU financial support to the communities it serves topped $3.5 million in funds dispersed through the NDCU Community Investment Program.  This included a donation of 4.5 acres of land to the East Shore community park, $200,000 to support the Community First Health Co-op’s Wellness Centre, and $50,000 to Rossland’s Golden Bear Day Care, just to name a few.

The East Kootenay Columbia Community Investment Co-op is a new member-owned association that allows its members to invest into local businesses with the purpose of promoting economic, social, environmental and community impacts.  They are member-owned, locally controlled and governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The Co-op finances businesses located in the East Kootenay Columbia, which includes the following regions and their surrounding communities: Elk Valley; Cranbrook-Kimberley; Columbia Valley-Golden; and Revelstoke.