The following companies/organizations are Investors of the Cape Breton Partnership and offer services specific to business development.
                    
        Cape Breton University Library – Business Resources
Cape Breton University provides a variety of free research to business seeking to find information on starting and growing their companies. Some of the research that can be accessed at CBU includes: Canadian social and economic data Company information Industry information Country information
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        CBCL Ltd.
CBCL Limited provides professional consulting engineering and environmental services in the Municipal Services, Water & Wastewater, Buildings, Industry & Manufacturing, Energy & Power, Oil & Gas, Marine, Transportation & Bridges and Environment & Planning sectors.
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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.
READ MOREPatricia MacNeil
Executive Director
292 Charlotte Street Suite 100 Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 1C7
(902) 539-4332
patricia.macneil@cbdc.ca
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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
        Collegio Technologies Inc.
Collegio is focused on providing educational opportunities to organizations and entrepreneurs. They provide digital skills training to help you and your business succeed in today’s competitive landscape. If you want to learn how to update your WordPress site, launch an e-commerce venture, utilize search engine optimization techniques, or polish up on your React skills, they can provide you with training opportunities to help you thrive in the digital age. They can teach you how!
READ MORE37 Nepean St. Sydney NS B1P 6A7
info@collegio.ca
        East Coast Credit Union
At East Coast Credit Union, members are customers and owners. It’s a better relationship that ensures your needs come first. East Coast Credit Union members take control of their own financial future. As an owner with East Coast, members have access to all of our products and services. Chequing/savings accounts, loans, mortgages, MasterCard® & Choice Rewards products, RRSPs, RESPs, GICs, retirement planning and so much more. Members have access to accounts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through ATM & Internet banking or for those who prefer a little face-to-face you can stop by the branch during regular business hours.
READ MORECorporate Office 257 Main Street Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2C1
1 (902) 747-3142
eastcoast@creditu.ca
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        Ethical Swag
Ethical Swag makes sure your promotional products do what they were intended to do – Get you remembered for all the right reasons! We only work with suppliers that have passed audits related to social compliance, environmental impact, product safety, supply chain security and product quality. Your logo + our products = higher recall and connection to your brand. We are refining the way people experience brands with transparency and cool products!
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        Export Development Canada
Export Development Canada is Canada’s export credit agency. Their job is to support and develop Canada’s export trade by helping Canadian companies respond to international business opportunities. They’re a self-financing, Crown corporation that operates at arm’s length from the Government. They provide insurance and financial services, bonding products and small business solutions to Canadian exporters and investors and their international buyers. They also support Canadian direct investment abroad and investment into Canada. In 2016, they helped more than 7,150 Canadian companies do business in over 200 countries. The majority of these companies were small business, and more than 30 per cent of this business was conducted in fast-growing emerging markets. Using their financial products and services, their customers’ export sales and investments totaled almost $99 billion. They estimate that this helped generate $63.9 billion of Canada’s GDP, contributed more than 4 cents for every dollar earned and helped sustain 525,400 jobs.
READ MORE1605-1969 Upper Water St. Tower 2 Halifax Nova Scotia B3J 3R7
(902) 450-7610
contactatlantic@edc.ca
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        Grant Thronton
Grant Thornton—a leading Canadian accounting and business advisory firm – and the largest accounting firm in Atlantic Canada – providing audit, tax and advisory services to private and public organizations. To complement our technical knowledge and expertise, we have professionals who are dedicated to developing in-depth industry knowledge. Together with the Quebec firm Raymond Chabot Grant Thornton LLP, we have approximately 4,000 people in offices across Canada. Grant Thornton LLP is a Canadian member of Grant Thornton International Ltd (Grant Thornton International). Grant Thornton International and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered by the member firms independently.
READ MORESuite 200 - 500 George St Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 4K6
(902) 562-558
Sydney@GrantThornton.ca
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        Group ATN Consulting
Group ATN Consulting is a diversified consultancy serving the public and private Sectors, First Nations and Aboriginal Interests and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Their mission is to support and optimize value to our clients. Their philosophy springs from key commitments to quality, thought leadership, focused customer service, innovative solutions, and absolute accountability. Group ATN Consulting provides services including feasibility assessments, business development strategies, government relations services, policy development and analysis, economic analysis, and more. Their team also works hard to remain current on leading issues and trends by exposing their consultants to a network of thought leaders, tracking and analyzing economic and social trends, subscribing to social media, maintaining an advisory group of seasoned leaders, and actively participating in forums and events that provide opportunities for learning and the collision of ideas.
READ MORE5663 Cornwallis Street, Suite 100 Halifax Nova Scotia B3K 1B6
(902) 482-1221
info@groupatn.ca
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        Employment and Social Development Canada – Student Work-Integrated Learning Program
If your business is having difficulty finding qualified workers in the field of science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) and business, you can apply for a wage subsidy to hire a post-secondary student. Subsidies cover: Up to 50% of the wage cost (up to $5,000) per student Up to 70% of the wage cost (up to $7,000) per placement of a student from an under-represented group (first-year students, women in STEM, Indigenous students, persons with disabilities and newcomers) You can apply to one of many participating employer groups.
READ MORENC-DGOP-POB-SWILP-PAIMTE-GD@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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        Employment Nova Scotia – Job Creation Partnerships
You may be eligible for funding to hire an unemployed person for up to 52 consecutive weeks. You will need to:
Create a new full-time position with start and finish dates
Provide a meaningful work experience
Supervise and mentor the participant
Ensure that the work project benefits your community or local economy
Register for the Labour Market Support System
Part-time work may be created for participants with disabilities.
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        Employment Nova Scotia- START
Receive a financial incentive to hire an unemployed, ready-to-work Nova Scotian. Different types of funding are available for employers, depending on the type of employment offered, the employer’s needs and the employee’s skill level. Wage incentive Wage incentives help offset some of the salary and benefit costs related to hiring a new employee. Preference is given to employers who can offer full-time, sustainable employment. Short-term jobs may be eligible if they help the employee develop transferrable skills that can improve their chances of finding other employment in the future, or if they’re related to a priority sector or industry where a short-term contract is being implemented. Employment Nova Scotia determines wage incentive amounts on a case-by-case basis, considering : type of employment offered wages offered employee’s skill level how long the employee has been looking for work whether the position supports a priority sector in Nova Scotia (like ocean technology, information and communication technology, financial services, clean technology, life sciences or aerospace and defence) Other factors may also be considered.
READ MORE1-877-223-0888
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        Enactus Canada
Guided by academic advisors and business experts, student leaders create and implement community empowerment projects and business ventures with a strong focus on social entrepreneurship. This helps students unleash their entrepreneurial spirit and develop the talent and perspective essential to leadership. Student Entrepreneur National Competition recognizes and rewards the commitment, determination and achievements of full-time university and college student business owners.
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        Export Development Canada-Working Capital
EDC’s bonding and guarantee support provides breathing room to pursue opportunities without depleting working capital. Programs include the Export Guarantee Program, Foreign Exchange Facility Guarantee, Account Performance Security Guarantee and Surety Bond Insurance.
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        Farm Animal Health and Welfare
Subsidizes the cost of veterinarian fees for regular herd health check-ups (not emergency calls) for dairy, beef, sheep, swine, and mink farmers.
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        Farm Safety Nova Scotia
Established in July 2010, the Society of Farm Safety Nova Scotia is a not–for–profit organization that works with Nova Scotia farms to keep farmers, their families, and their employees safe. It is our goal to ensure farmers have access to the tools and resources they need to operate safe and productive farms.
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        Farm Succession Planning
If succession planning was easy, most farms would have a succession plan. But 65% of farms don’t transfer successfully to a second generation because owners don’t plan for it. Succession planning isn’t complicated, it just has a lot of steps. This site guides you through the steps.
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        FCC – Agribusiness and Agrifood Financing
FCC Agribusiness and Agri-Food provides specialized financial services, products and resources for businesses that support primary producers on both sides of the farm gate. Support can help you to minimize operating costs, diversify assets or expand your business.
READ MORE1-888-332-3301
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        FCC – Agriculture Financing
FCC offers financing built for farmers. Through over a hundred FCC offices across Canada and a network of equipment dealers, crop retailers and livestock finance suppliers, our team will partner with you to create solutions that work. This program includes financing for such things as: Credit lines Crop inputs Livestock Equipment Environmental solutions Farm transfers Land and buildings Loan insurance
READ MORE1-888-332-3301
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