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

Micro-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.

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902-562-0122

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Navigate

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

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Megan MacAulay

Project Director

37 Nepean Street, Suite 105, Sydney, NS, B1P 6A7

902-565-1102

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Nova 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.

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1240 Grand Lake Road Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6J7

902-563-2450

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Nova 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.

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226 Reeves Street Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia B9A 2A2

902-625-2380

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NovaStream

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

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Sydney, Nova Scotia

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NSCC – 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

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Amanda Mombourquette or Donald Hanson

Community Innovation Lead

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

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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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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.

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66 Wentworth Street Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6T4

(902) 539-2425

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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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Tanya Felix

902-625-1588

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Sydney Credit Union

We are a financial cooperative committed to providing programs and services which enhance the economic and social well being of our members and our community. As a Sydney Credit Union member, you have access to a complete and competitive line of financial products and services – and the convenience of our three full service branches, one in Sydney, one in Sydney River and now one in Whitney Pier. We offer personal and commercial loans, mortgages, chequing and savings accounts, MasterCard® products including CHOICE REWARDS®, RRSPs, RRIFs, RESPs, GICs, Internet and telephone banking, and several money savings package plans, suited to meet your financial needs.

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95 Townsend St. Sydney, NS B1P 6K3

(902) 562-5593

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Invest Nova Scotia – Payroll Rebate

A payroll rebate is an earned incentive, paid out yearly after a company achieves pre-determined targets. The rebate is a return on a company’s eligible gross payroll. It is issued over a set number of years – usually between three and five – and to a set amount. This means that for every dollar a company spends in salaries and benefits, Invest Nova Scotia rebates back a negotiated percentage. The payroll rebate agreement includes performance targets that a company must achieve in order to receive the rebate, including: Number of new positions created Average annual salary

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Wanda MacLean

Regional Business Development Advisor

902-227-7144

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Invest Nova Scotia – Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program

The Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program helps small and medium sized companies access direct assistance to help make their business more productive and innovative. The program lets businesses seek out expertise within post-secondary institutions to: Improve productivity Develop a new product, service, or process Create growth There are two tiers of the Productivity and Innovation Voucher Program. Tier 1: Vouchers of up to $15,000 for eligible businesses that have not previously been awarded a voucher or are applying with a new project. Tier 2: Vouchers of up to $25,000 for eligible businesses to build on work already done. Vouchers are used to obtain services from eligible service providers. Businesses must select a provider and service that best fits their needs.

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Wanda MacLean


902-227-7144

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Invest Nova Scotia – Small Business Development Program

The Small Business Development Program supports Nova Scotia businesses looking to increase their export capacity. The program provides financial incentives on projects that assist a business to grow current exports or participate in a global supply chain by providing access to: Research expertise Expertise to improve productivity and competitiveness Expertise to improve capacity Expertise to remove barriers to exporting The Small Business Development Program supports the acquisition of a private sector consultant to provide professional expertise. The program contributes up to 50% of eligible project costs to a maximum incentive of $15,000. A business with revenue growth of at least 15% in its previous complete fiscal year will be eligible for up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $25,000.

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Wanda MacLean


902-227-7144

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Invest Nova Scotia – Trade Accelerator Program (TAP)

Nova Scotia Business Inc., in partnership with the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to offer the Trade Accelerator Program (TAP). The program welcomes eligible businesses from across Nova Scotia to apply.  TAP is an innovative and dynamic program aimed at helping enterprises overcome barriers to exporting.  The program is quickly gaining momentum across Canada, and has a reputation of achieving real results, fast.

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Kayla Lynch

902-481-1229

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Invest Nova Scotia – Trade Market Intelligence (TMI) Service

If you are looking for customized research on business opportunities in specific sectors and export markets, you may be eligible for Invest Nova Scotia’s Trade Market Intelligence (TMI) Service. With a research team of sector specialists with access to leading proprietary databases, TMI helps Nova Scotia companies access trade intelligence to help identify export opportunities specific to their products, services, and markets of interest. Types of export research TMI can assist with: Market characteristics such as demand, size, value and trends Competitor analysis Trade regulations, including import and export requirements Supply chain and logistics analysis Country economic and political overviews Industry certifications and standards Industry contacts, suppliers, wholesalers, distributors Tradeshows, events, and other promotional mediums TMI is available to Nova Scotia companies working with or connected to a provincial Export Development Executive (EDE) or Regional Business Development Advisor (RBDA). Your contact will help guide the process, including completing a TMI application*.

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Wanda MacLean


902-227-7144

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Invest Nova Scotia – Trade Missions

Looking to grow your business across Canada or internationally? Invest Nova Scotia’s trade missions are a cost-effective way to explore new opportunities, find new customers and partners, or attract investment and capital. For a nominal fee, we will take you into a market and provide you with an itinerary including: in-market matchmaking; dedicated booth space at the trade show; individual support by an Invest Nova Scotia export development executive; ground transportation to and from sales calls; networking opportunities.  

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Wanda MacLean


902-227-7144

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Invest Nova Scotia TecSocial

TecSocial is a monthly meeting for those with an interest in technology and entrepreneurship. The topics feature a variety of entrepreneurs and subject matter experts. TecSocial brings together entrepreneurs from across Cape Breton, Invest Nova Scotia clients, business professionals, industry representatives and students. These events are free and open to the public. Appetizers provided are compliments of Invest Nova Scotia.

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Bob Pelley

902-564-2951 (ext 1)

902-577-2689

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Investment Tax Credit

You may be eligible to claim an investment tax credit (ITC) if any of the following applies: you bought certain new buildings, machinery, or equipment and they were used in certain areas of Canada in qualifying activities such as farming, fishing, logging, manufacturing, or processing (for more information, go to Atlantic investment tax credit) you have done work that qualifies for scientific research and experimental development (SR&ED) tax incentives (for more information, go to Claiming SR&ED tax incentives) you employ an eligible apprentice for which you want to claim an Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit you have unclaimed credits earned in the last 10 years you have received a T3 slip, showing an amount in box 41 you have received a 2008 version of a T5013 slip, with an amount showing in box 107, or a 2004 version of a T5013 slip, with an amount showing in boxes 38 or 138 you have received a T5013 slip, with an amount showing in boxes 186 or 194 you have received a T101 slip, with an amount showing in box 128 you have a partnership financial statement that allocates to you an amount that qualifies for this credit you have an investment in a mining operation that allocates certain exploration expenditures to you you have created licensed child care spaces for the children of your employees

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Irving Shipbuilding Inc. Online Supplier Registry

Register your business as a potential supplier of goods and services for the shipbuilding industry.

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ISANS-Business Workshops

ISANS has business workshops and seminars to help newcomers start and grow a successful business. To attend business training workshops, you must first: be a recent citizen, permanent resident or approved to immigrate register as an ISANS client meet with an ISANS business counsellor have a minimum CLB 5 Classes and workshops take place on-site at ISANS or online through our Online Learning website

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