The following companies/organizations are Investors of the Cape Breton Partnership and offer services specific to business development.

Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design

Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design (the Centre), a non-profit charitable organization, is an integral and leading force in the educational, promotional and economic development of the craft sector on Cape Breton Island with a membership of over 300 individuals and organizations throughout Cape Breton Island, the traditional and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaw people of Unama’ki. The mandate of Cape Breton Centre for Craft & Design is to promote excellence in the field of craft and design through education and training, exhibitions and special events. We are committed to developing programs that preserve, elevate, expand, and enhance the creation of craft.

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Stephanie Dupuis

Craft Business Development Coordinator

322 Charlotte Street Sydney, Nova Scotia

902-539-7491

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Cape Breton Partnership – Business Services

The Cape Breton Partnership provides support, counselling and guidance to businesses at every stage.

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Shannon MacNeil

(902) 562-0122

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CBDC – Coastal Business

Established in 1985, Coastal Business CBDC’s principal goals continue to be the provision of quality financial and advisory assistance to new and expanding business within our community.  To achieve these goals Coastal Business provides access to capital for qualifying small and medium size enterprises.  In addition it provides advisory assistance, training and general counseling to better ensure the success of the assisted businesses. Financial assistance is available in the form of loans, loan guarantees and equity financing to existing and aspiring entrepreneurs. Business counselling, help & advice is available to small businesses. We help businesses to succeed and therefore we give high priority to the advisory role of our mandate. Entrepreneurship development and training to individuals and small business owners/managers is available in many of our offices. Technical assistance usually takes the form of guidance and coaching, and sometimes advocating on behalf of our clients to other lending establishments or regulatory agencies.

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Patricia MacNeil

Executive Director

292 Charlotte Street Suite 100 Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 1C7

(902) 539-4332

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Centre for Entrepreneurship Education & Development (CEED)

CEED offers entrepreneurs of all ages and stages a wide variety of hands-on learning opportunities. In Cape Breton, programs are delivered both in-person at Navigate Startup House and virtually via Adobe Connect. CEED’s experiential programming is designed to ensure the participant leaves with relevant skills that can be immediately employed in the launch or growth of a business. The following programs are available:

Building Financial Models
Value Proposition Design
Business Model Canvas
Pricing Your Product or Service

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Kim Desveaux

Navigate 37 Nepean Street, Sydney

(902)-217-2092

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Colindale Business Soloutions

Our service includes a comprehensive consultation to help identify gaps and opportunities, a comprehensive report that includes a project plan with timelines and milestones, a cost analysis, and a schedule. We also offer a suite of quality products that will help you get there quickly and smoothly. That’s how we ensure your success. We help start ups and existing businesses with the following: Business Management/Development Practices Diagnostic Assessments Access to Capital Market/Export Readiness Business Plan Mentoring Business Coaching Property Management Services

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Damian MacInnis

151 Little Mabou Rd Port Hood, Nova Scotia

(902) 631-3525

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Invest Nova Scotia – Cape Breton

Invest Nova Scotia helps Cape Breton start-ups grow stronger, faster. We have entrepreneur-in-residence, acceleration programs, training opportunities, a makerspace, mentorship and networking events. Invest Nova Scotia collaborates with Cape Breton Partnership, Cape Breton University, Navigate, NSCC, NRC and Propel ICT to ensure Momentum delivers support Cape Breton start-ups need.

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Bob Pelley

902-564-2951 (ext 1)

902-577-2689

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Mi’kmaw Economic Benefits Office

The mandate of the Mi’kmaw Economic Benefits Office (MEBO) is to maximize the employment and contract opportunities for indigenous community members in Unama’ki (Cape Breton).  We achieve this by continually expanding our broad network of industry partners across all sectors. MEBO supports the growth of businesses as well as aspiring entrepreneurs in the establishment of new businesses. We can help with: providing training workshops assistance preparing funding applications business plan development

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Alex Paul

201 Churchill Dr Suite 201, Membertou, NS B1S 0H1

902-562-4700

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NSCC – Your Entrepreneurial Self Program

NSCC Entrepreneurship provides entrepreneurial skill awareness and development opportunities for students, faculty and staff. Programs and services include:

Free Entrepreneurial Resources including workshops, presentations, activities, lesson plans, templates, toolkits
Business Counselling –One-on-one business counselling for students, staff and faculty who are interested in starting a business or want to take their existing businesses to the next level. Guidance offered for business plan development, marketing, HR, government regulations and financing.
Curriculum Consulting – One-on-one curriculum consulting and support to integrate entrepreneurship into the classroom (integrating tools such as the business model canvas, business plans, software and activities)
College Wide Activities – entrepreneurial activities for students, staff and faculty including challenges, contests and competitions and professional development opportunities
Community Connections – Entrepreneurial Service Providers and Community Resources – we work with other entrepreneurial service providers and connect students/staff to relevant resources and supports, workshops and training events, available in our communities

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Sheri Williams

902-491-8869

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Strait Area Chamber of Commerce

SACOC provides unique opportunities for businesses to promote and develop through advertising, seminars, trade shows, networking and events. It also provides access to member discounts on business expenses such as group insurance, point of sale systems, advertising, etc., in addition to 15-20 training courses each year to help businesses be more efficient and grow. SACOC annually hosts a “Small Business Road Show” that engages SMEs and service providers in rural communities across rural Cape Breton. The objective is to build awareness of the many services provided to SMEs and new entrepreneurs. SACOC periodically hosts women leadership events that provide networking and skill development opportunities for women in business and leadership.

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Amanda Mombourquette

902-625-1588

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Nova Scotia Department of Business

The Department of Business works with Crown corporations and special operating entities (Develop Nova Scotia, Invest Nova Scotia, and Tourism Nova Scotia) to develop plans, programs and policies that encourage entrepreneurship, help attract venture capital investment and grow sectors of the economy. We also work with other government departments and levels of government, universities, NSCC and the private and social enterprise sectors to create a shared strategy for business growth. working to help make Nova Scotia competitive and business-friendly administering the Invest Nova Scotia fund leading projects including rural internet, Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE) and the Halifax Convention Centre accountability reporting on the Nova Scotia Jobs Fund, Nova Scotia Fund, Strategic Investment Funds and Nova Scotia Film & Television Production Incentive Fund

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PO Box 2311 Halifax NS B3J 3C8


NRC – EUREKA

EUREKA is an international network for market-driven industrial R&D that includes over 40 economies from the EU, Europe, Israel, South Korea, and now Canada. Through Canada’s associate membership in EUREKA, Canadian innovators have a new advantage in accessing technology, expertise, and markets in Europe and beyond. With the goal of increasing competitiveness in world markets, EUREKA brings together small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), large companies, research centres, universities, and other innovators from EUREKA countries to work together on market-driven industrial R&D.

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Eric Holdrinet

514-882-9384

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NRC – Research and Development Programming

Learn about how the National Research Council can support your innovation efforts with strategic and collaborative research centres, scientific and technical advisory services, and licensing opportunities. Programs include: Research and collaboration – Research and collaboration centres, international innovation, libraries and data collections, industrial R&D groups Facilities – Unique and specialized research and testing facilities to support private and public sector partners Products and services – Technical and advisory services, software and applications, reference materials, calibration, construction codes Intellectual property licensing – Patent licensing opportunities to develop integrated and market-ready solutions  

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Steven Manley

902-270-3549

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NSCC – Applied Research Program

NSCC Applied Research develops practical and innovative solutions for industry’s real-world problems. With an expert research team and network of faculty and students from some of our most challenging and cutting-edge programs, we help industry improve their products, enhance processes, and grow their businesses. NSCC has well-equipped facilities which provide us with the tools to contribute to the development of new technologies that we can transfer to our partners. The commercialization of research findings adds value to the communities we serve and contributes to the economic growth of our province. NSCC specializes in five areas of applied research

Energy
Engineered Technologies
Environment & Agriculture Technology
Geomatics
Oceans

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Amanda Mombourquette or Donald Hanson

Community Innovation Lead

(902)-227-7836 or (902) 919-5225

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Perennia – Small Farm Outreach Program

Nova Scotia has one of the highest numbers of small farms and new farm entrants in Canada. To connect these organic and conventional producers with the resources they need, and to answer basic production questions, Perennia offers information and workshops to address issues they may be challenged with. This program is aimed at those producers who grow crops or raise livestock on a scale where they just reach the threshold of being a registered farm ($10,000 in gross sales) but are seeking information to grow their farm business slowly since they may not have anyone working the farm full-time, or just starting their farm operation.

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Sarah Wood

(902) 896-0277

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Perennia Advisory Services

Perennia specialist are available on retainer to provide on-going production advice to farm operations where they are more consistently engaged in your operational goals. Some of the custom support is available for:

Dairy Nutrition
Site Assessments
Fertility Plans
Agricultural Product Efficacy Trials
Applied Research
Food Safety

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(902) 896-8782

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Perennia Product Development/Innovation Centre

The Perennia Innovation Centre is food and food-based product development, improvement and small pilot processing facility in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia. The Centre is a 25,000 sq. ft. green facility following Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) principles. It has a provincially-inspected pilot plant, and food product development laboratory and analytical and microbiological labs and start up lease space for business incubation. Perennia food scientists and research associates work with established and new agrifood, beverage and seafood businesses to create new products, or improve current products or processes.

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(902) 896-8782

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Perennia Training Services

Perennia’s team develops and delivers workshops, field days, tours, short courses, training sessions and conferences, often in partnership with industry or government. Perennia has a number of workshops and training topics that can be customized or delivered by our specialists and associates to your group, agency or company.

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902-896-8782

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Propel – E-Accelerator

Propel’s e-accelerator program based out of Atlantic Canada helps businesses realize their big ambitions. Set apart as one of the only 100% online accelerators of its kind, you’ll learn what it takes to launch and build a successful ICT company from where you live. ‍Already launched your company? No problem! Our programming is tailored to fit where you are at right now! Our promise: Customized programming: Every company is different and we focus on an applied experiment-based approach to validate assumptions, test and iterate through LEAN SPRINTS. Virtual Delivery: Propel provides access to premium content without the cost and disruption of travel or relocation. Because of this we’re able to evaluate and accept companies year round! Dedicated coaching: Learn from our experienced founders to provide guidance, feedback, and accountability during your startup journey.

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Screen Nova Scotia

Screen Nova Scotia is a not-for-profit membership organization representing over 2,000 people working in film, television and animation across the province. Membership includes producers, service providers, local cast and crew, unions and guilds, and industry organizations.  Screen Nova Scotia works with and advocates on behalf of the screen-based industry in Nova Scotia to build long-term economic and cultural sustainability of the sector, and to create opportunities for the film, television, and digital media content creators based in the province. Services provided for include business development training, attendance at conferences and trade missions, research and information on funding programs provided by various partners.

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Laura Mackenzie

902-405-1499

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