The following companies/organizations are Investors of the Cape Breton Partnership and offer services specific to business development.
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
READ MOREAlex Paul
201 Churchill Dr Suite 201, Membertou, NS B1S 0H1
902-562-4700
info@mebons.ca
Visit websiteMicro-Loan Program
Under the Micro-Loan Program, women+ entrepreneurs from across Unama’ki – Cape Breton will be eligible to apply for a loan of up to $10,000. The Micro-Loan Program is made possible by the partnership and participation of the Cape Breton Partnership, Sydney Credit Union, East Coast Credit Union, Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Strait Area Chamber of Commerce, Centre for Women in Business, and Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development.
READ MORENavigate
Navigate, located in the New Dawn Centre for Social Innovation in Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, aims to foster and keep burgeoning companies in Cape Breton by providing space, support, and resources. Navigate provides: Subsidized office space for early-stage companies Common workspace available to all members The ability to tap into a worldwide network of experts in the fields of business and technology Event programming provided for tenants, members, and the community includes lunch and learns, workshops, hackathons, and start-up weekends
READ MOREMegan MacAulay
Project Director
37 Nepean Street, Suite 105, Sydney, NS, B1P 6A7
902-565-1102
megan@navigatestartup.ca
Visit websiteNova Scotia Community College- Marconi Campus
Located in Sydney, the Marconi Campus offers a range of programs and a friendly learning atmosphere. Students enjoy plenty of open space with comfy seating, quiet study areas, wireless access and computer labs. The campus business centre serves as an incubator for small businesses and provides opportunities for students to work part-time in their field of study, and build their portfolio. It also provides the resources to help them develop their own small business ideas. A new trades wing features shop space, classrooms, offices and a green design, meeting Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards.
READ MORENova Scotia Community College-Strait Area
Located in Port Hawkesbury, the Strait Area Campus offers an extensive range of programs. The Campus is home to the Nautical Institute that provides Transport Canada-approved marine training. Facilities for marine training include a wave tank, fire training centre and state-of-the-art simulators for propulsion systems, navigation and global communications. Students enjoy a spacious and friendly campus environment, amazing outdoor spaces and trails, as well as excellent recreation fitness and entertainment services that are offered in the area year-round. The Strait Area Campus also offers programs in Wagmatcook First Nation at the renovated Wagmatcook Learning Centre.
READ MORE226 Reeves Street Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia B9A 2A2
902-625-2380
strait.info@nscc.ca
Visit websiteNovaStream
Nova Stream Productions offers a full range of professional audio and visual services from commercials to documentaries and feature-length films to event A/V and live streaming. SERVICES OFFERED Film & Video Production Live Streaming Live Event A/V A/V Installations Photography UX and UI Design Custom Built Websites SaaS Development Mobile Applications Managed Hosting Theatre Manager Integration Marcato Festival Integration
READ MORENSCC – Customized Business Training Solutions
Customized learning solutions to meet specific industry requirements. NSCC offers a wide variety of services, including:
Consulting – Needs assessments, training plans, business process mapping, preparation of technical documents and related training materials
Curriculum development – New curriculum development, customization of existing curriculum, instructional design
Customized learning – Face-to-face delivery both at your workplace or on-campus, online delivery, combination of delivery methods and locations, coaching and mentoring
Online delivery – Create or repurpose existing training content, host online training, provide technical support to learners and trainers
Capacity building – Pre-employment training programs, train the trainer programs, testing and evaluation
Amanda Mombourquette or Donald Hanson
Community Innovation Lead
(902)-227-7836 or (902) 919-5225
Amanda.Mombourquette@nscc.ca or Donald.Hanson@nscc.ca
Visit websiteNSCC – 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
Sampson McPhee Lawyers
For over 30 years, Sampson McPhee has provided innovative and practical solutions, timely and efficient service and a breadth and depth of knowledge and experience in all areas of the law to a diverse client base. They provide services of the highest calibre in every area of law, a goal to which the members of their firm are committed to at every level. The success of their firm has only one measure: the success of the clients they serve. At Sampson McPhee, they have long been guided by a tradition of doing the best that they can for their clients by doing good work. This tradition continues to serve as their foundation and their inspiration. Today, doing good work for their clients means advancing their position as knowledgeable, multi-disciplinary service providers with global competence. Sampson McPhee’s lawyers continue to demonstrate their qualities as innovative strategists, well able to handle the complexities of emerging industries, advancing technology and variable international economics to maximum advantage. Above all, their lawyers, students and staff share a common goal, excellence in all that they do. Sampson McPhee vigorously fosters an environment that encourages the individual and supports the firm. The unique qualities that each individual brings to the collective effort are fundamental to the continued success of their firm and its clients and they proudly acknowledge their contributions to their past and to their future.
READ MOREStrait 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.
READ MOREDigital 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.
READ MOREECO 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
READ MOREEDC Financing
EDC offers competitive payment terms, direct financing for key deals or experienced partnerships for financing high-value, high-stakes international projects.
READ MOREEDC Research
Export development Canada offers a variety of information that can assist companies in preparing for export. The type of information EDC can provide is Market Information Webinars Articles Trade Insights Export Hub Help
READ MOREEDC-NEDC Insurance Programs
EDC’s credit insurance protects Canadian exporters against the risk of non-payment caused by an array of events including customer bankruptcy or non-payment, contract cancellation, issues with currency conversion or transfer, and more. With credit insurance protection, your bank will typically lend against your insured invoices for 90% of their value, significantly increasing your access to cash.
READ MOREEfficiency Nova Scotia
We help all types of businesses, from small mom-and-pop shops to large industrial manufacturers and everything in between. Here’s how we can help small businesses: We provide rebates that cover up to 60% of the total project cost for energy efficiency upgrades, a free energy assessment for businesses who qualify and 24-months interest free financing on your Nova Scotia Power bill. Until December 31, 2021, incentives have increased to cover up to 80% of the total project cost on select lighting and all commercial heating measures. Starting June 29, incentives for energy efficiency upgrades will be available for non-electrically heated small businesses and not-for-profits. Incentives will be available for select products in the following categories: Heating Kitchen Equipment Water Heating Laundry Equipment Agriculture Technologies Solar Our Business Energy Rebates Program offers instant and mail-in rebates for qualifying energy efficient products, too. For more information on programs for small businesses, contact Spencer Leblanc our Business Development Manager dedicated to helping small businesses save. Contact information can be found below. If you’re constructing a new building, planning an expansion, or undertaking major renovations, larger businesses can benefit from rebates on high quality, efficient equipment and programs that identify energy savings to reduce their maintenance costs and equipment run times. For more information on our programs please visit our website.
READ MOREEmployment and Social Development Canada – Canada Summer Jobs Fund
Do you plan to hire students to help out at your small business next summer? This wage subsidy could help you pay up to 50% of the salary to an eligible full-time student. To qualify: Students must be between 15 and 30 years old You should have no more than 50 full-time employees You need to meet the priorities set by your region The value of the subsidy is based on the minimum wage in your region. Not-for-profit organizations are eligible for 100% of the student’s salary.
READ MOREEmployment and Social Development Canada – Career Focus
You could get financial assistance if you can offer career-related work experience to young people between the ages of 15 and 30. To qualify, your business or non-profit organization needs to: Hire 8 or more recruits (exceptions for rural or remote regions) Offer between 6 and 12 months of work that improves the skills of recruits Provide coaching or mentoring Base the project in Canada Priority is given to work experience in growth sectors.
READ MOREEmployment and Social Development Canada – Compensation for Employers of Reservists Program
Get a one-time grant for operational losses when a reservist employee takes time away from work to serve on military operations. Eligibility criteria includes: Be a Canadian employer of a reservist Reservist must be deployed for a minimum of 30 days to a maximum of 18 months Provide documentation that reservist worked for you prior to their leave of absence Application must be received no later than 12 months following reservist’s return
READ MOREinformation@forces.gc.ca
Visit websiteEmployment and Social Development Canada – Skills Link
You could get up to $25,000 per participant to hire and train youth between the ages of 15 and 30 who face barriers to employment. Participants must also be: Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons who have been granted refugee status in Canada Legally entitled to work Not in receipt of employment insurance benefits Employers must: Recruit participants Propose a project that involves a minimum of 8 youth participants Provide work experience-type activity Enable participants to gain experience and skills to help them find work later on Contact the Service Canada Centre in your region http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/tbsc-fsco/sc-lst.jsp?prov=NS&lang=eng
READ MORE