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

Cape Breton University

At Cape Breton University, we push the boundaries of innovation and thought leadership to create a global academic experience and build a sustainable future for our island. Surrounded by pristine natural landscape, vibrant culture, and welcoming communities, Cape Breton University (CBU) is home to nearly 7,000 students from more than 70 countries around the world. We are committed to the future of Cape Breton Island, innovative economic development and sustainability programs, and Indigenous learning leadership. CBU offers a comprehensive set of liberal arts, science, business, health and professional programs. As a university that is dedicated to excellence in teaching and learning, CBU provides students with the advantage of outstanding experiential learning and undergraduate research opportunities in a supportive academic environment. Our programs, in diverse fields of study, consistently rank well above the national averages in faculty-student interaction and service learning. Our people, our cultures, and our strong sense of community make Cape Breton University a special place.

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1250 Grand Lake Rd. Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada B1M 1A2

+1 888-959-9995

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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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Laura Syms

MLIS

902-563-1994

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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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Richard Morykot

Manager

(902) 539-1330

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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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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!

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37 Nepean St. Sydney NS B1P 6A7


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.

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Corporate Office 257 Main Street Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2C1

1 (902) 747-3142

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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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902-549-3773

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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.

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1605-1969 Upper Water St. Tower 2 Halifax Nova Scotia B3J 3R7

(902) 450-7610

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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.

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Suite 200 - 500 George St Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 4K6

(902) 562-558

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Community Economic Development Investment Fund (CEDIF)

A CEDIF is a pool of capital raised through the sale of shares that is invested in new or existing local businesses. A CEDIF develops within the community. Any individual or group can form a working group to investigate the possibility of starting a CEDIF in their community. As an investor, benefits to buying shares in CEDIFs include: 35% non-refundable provincial income tax credit on your investment Investments are RRSP eligible The Nova Scotia Co-operative Council offers a turnkey CEDIF development package aimed at simplifying the process for your group to start a CEDIF offering.

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902-893-8966

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Consultant Advisory Services (CAS)

The Consultant Advisory Services program gives CBDCs the ability to offer Consultant Advisory Services to small and medium-sized businesses and not-for-profit organizations. New and existing clients of CBDCs and ACOA will be able to access technical and financial assistance by engaging consultants to assist them with various issues, opportunities and challenges.

Eligible CAS activities include:

Diagnostic Assessment
Business Management Development Practices
Access to Capital
Market Readiness/Export Potential
Specific Studies/Business Plan Mentoring
Aftercare/Mentoring and Follow-up

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CRA Checklist for New Small Business

This checklist is for people like you who are starting a business. Using the links below, you can get information about your fiscal obligations and their implications. You can also get information on interactions between your business and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

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CRA-Changing Your Business Status

Find out what you should do when you make changes to the structure, status or ownership of your business.

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CRA-Payroll Deduction Calculator

Calculate deductions and contributions on employee pay, open a payroll account to send deductions, report income deductions.

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Digital Assistance Program for Small Business

The Digital Assistance Program for Small Business will help businesses across the province adapt to the digital economy, attract more customers and grow sales by providing eligible small businesses up to $5,000 to work with qualified digital service providers. Digital service providers will specialize in website development, search engine optimization, digital marketing and social media strategy, building online booking systems, and e-commerce tools. Applications are now open for small businesses seeking assistance. Businesses that qualified for the Small Business Impact Grant Part 3 that have been directly affected by the April 2021 public health measures will be automatically pre-qualified to participate in the Digital Assistance Program. Applications for Digital Service Providers are always open.

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Digital Media Tax Credit

Nova Scotia offers a digital media tax credit that rivals all others in Canada – making this the ideal place for video game development and interactive media. Qualifying companies can claim the lesser of 50% of the qualifying expenditures or 25% of total expenditures. Qualifying expenditures could include: 100% of eligible salaries in Nova Scotia, 65% of third-party labour remuneration and up to $100,000 in marketing and distribution expenditures.

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Elvira Dalag

902.424.2808

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Digital Nova Scotia

Digital Nova Scotia works closely with its stakeholders and funding partners to develop and implement a wide-variety of impactful training and workshop opportunities to foster Nova Scotia’s digital technologies industry. From diversity to youth initiatives, to a globally competitive workforce, Digital Nova Scotia aims to grow our digital economy.

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Ulrike Bahr-Gedalia

902 -809-5332

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Digital Nova Scotia

Digital Nova Scotia (DNS) is the industry association for Nova Scotia’s $2.5 billion ICT and digital technologies sector. Our programs, events, and opportunities enable us to connect our digital community and proudly promote its successes. Through skills development, capacity building, industry events, strong partnerships and the promotion of IT opportunities, we are supporting our sector as it continues to grow, evolve and thrive.  

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1301-1809 Barrington Street, Halifax, NS B3J 3K8

902-809-5332

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ECO Canada – Environmental Youth Corps Internship Program

If your business is in the science, technology, engineering or mathematics fields, you may be eligible to hire a young professional for a full-time environmental position. As the leading provider of employment programs that contribute to the development of the environmental workforce for the past 20 years, we are the source for employers and candidates to receive wage funding support. Our program gives eligible employers who work in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) or Natural Resources up to 50% of a candidate’s salary for new full-time environmental jobs. Employers may use this program to fund multiple new positions. Funding will be pro-rated dependent upon start date. The program offers:   A wage subsidy up to $15,000 Pre-approved, skilled graduates

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1-800-890-1924

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