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.
READ MORE1250 Grand Lake Rd. Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada B1M 1A2
+1 888-959-9995
registrar@cbu.ca
Visit websiteCape 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
READ MORECBCL 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.
READ MORECBDC – 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
Visit websiteCentre 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
Visit websiteEthical 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!
READ MOREExport 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
Visit websiteGrant 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
Visit websiteiAdvance Pathways
Funded by the Government of Canada, iAdvance Pathways provides career coaching and accelerates the employment prospects for internationally educated professionals (IEPs) that are unemployed and underemployed in Canada
READ MOREIG Wealth Management
Life is constantly changing, which is why you need a plan, and a pro-active advisor, that can adapt with your evolving needs and goals. We help you create a financial plan – an IG Living Plan – that moves and grows along with your life. Our goal? To improve your financial well-being and make sure you can embrace all of life’s possibilities. Solutions for your evolving business Whatever stage your business is at, we can help expand your operations, attract & retain employees, and maximize year-end profits. Whether your looking to pay yourself, invest, plan for succession, receive tax advice and help with planning, get advice on insurance, or deciding to incorporate, our advisors will work with you to help you make the right decision for your and your business.
READ MOREDoug MacKenzie
Financial Advisor
265 Prince Street, Sydney, NS
902-562-5000 ext 249
902-577-5371
doug.mackenzie@investorsgroup.com
Visit websiteIndigenous Community Support Fund
The health, safety and well-being of all people in Canada, including First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples is and will remain a top priority for all. Canada recognizes that First Nations, Inuit and Métis are among the most at-risk and that during this crisis. In particular, those in remote and fly-in only parts of the country are uniquely vulnerable. Communities are incredibly resilient and full of solutions and innovative ideas. This is why we must support distinctions-based measures to improve public health response for Indigenous communities and provide them with the flexibility they need to address the specific needs identified by communities and their members. This fund provides Indigenous leadership and organizations with the flexibility needed to design and implement community-based solutions to prevent, prepare and respond to the spread of COVID-19 within their communities. These funds can be used for measures including, but not limited to: preparedness measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 mental health assistance and emergency response services support for Elders and vulnerable community members measures to address food insecurity, such as support for the purchase, transportation and distribution of food, and access to traditional foods through hunting and fishing in the event of outbreaks educational and other support for children The request process for needs-based support is open and Indigenous communities and organizations can request funding now for funding covering the period until March 31, 2023. For formula-based funding allocated directly to First Nation, Inuit and Métis Nation communities, there is no deadline or request process. Direct allocations flow through existing agreements.
READ MOREIndustry Sector Councils
Find sector-specific resources and expertise to help you attract, retain, and train employees. The Association of Industry Sector Councils represents the interests of 32,000 small-and medium-sized businesses and 370,000 workers and their families, all over the province. Collectively, with our employers and training partners, we attract, retain and train talent to build a robust Nova Scotia. Our various sectors share ideas, success stories, resources and expertise to create more jobs.
READ MOREInnovation Mobilization Program
Industry can collaborate with Springboard network members in order to access funding (applications for the IM Program must be submitted by a Springboard Atlantic member to qualify for funding). Funding categories include:
Industry Engagement:connects skilled professionals in academia with like-minded contacts in industry to drive new collaborations and support research commercialization in Atlantic Canada.
Proof of Concept:support for developing early stage ideas, from a lab bench to a working prototype or equivalent (e.g. software beta).
Patent and Legal:support for the assessment and protection of ideas with commercial potential. All forms of intellectual property are eligible e.g. patents, industry designs, copyright, trademarking etc.
Marketing Support:validate the commercial potential of an idea. This funding supports market assessment and prototype development.
Insolvency for Business
Help for businesses when filing for bankruptcy or making a proposal.
READ MOREInspired to Hire
Find online tips and tool to help you reach, recruit, hire, and retain younger workers.
READ MOREIntellectual Property Office
Intellectual property is the legal right to ideas, inventions and creations in the industrial, scientific, literary and artistic fields. It also covers symbols, names, images, designs and models used in business. Without realizing it, your business may be creating IP assets that should be protected.
READ MOREcatherine.vardy@canada.ca
Visit websiteInvest Nova Scotia
Invest Nova Scotia enables the bold. With strategic investments, we support community-based projects that spark innovation and collaboration and build stronger, more competitive sectors and regions.
READ MOREInvest Nova Scotia – Export Growth Program
The Export Growth Program supports businesses looking to increase their export sales outside of Nova Scotia. The program provides financial incentives for projects that assist a business’ ability to overcome barriers to export growth. This includes: Supporting travel to marketassociated with visiting a client, potential partner, or investor in another market, or inviting a foreign client and/or potential partner to visit the Nova Scotia operation; and Mitigating trade show/conference costsby funding floor space, conference fees, travel and accommodation costs. The Export Growth Program contributes up to 50% of eligible costs to a maximum of $15,000 CAD for a business to: Travel to a market outside of Nova Scotia to attend a trade show, conference or to visit clients, potential partners or investors; Have foreign clients, potential partners or investors visit the business’ Nova Scotia facilities for the first time.
READ MORE