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

TD Bank Financial Group

As a top 10 North American bank, TD aims to stand out from its peers by having a differentiated brand – anchored in our proven business model, and rooted in a desire to give our customers, communities and colleagues the confidence to thrive in a changing world. Our small business banking includes: Business Bank Account (Canadian and US Dollar) Merchant Solutions (Debit and Credit Processing) Business Credit Cards Payroll Services Cash flow management – Overdrafts and Lines of Credit

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Doug Arsenault

Account Manager-Small Business Banking

292 Charlotte Street, Sydney, Nova Scotia

902-539-3640 ext 300

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The Breton Law Group

The Breton Law Group is a law firm dedicated to providing their clients with excellent service, trusted advice and sound direction. Their lawyers are an experienced and skilled group of advisors. Some of Sydney’s most accomplished lawyers have merged together to form a powerful team. The Breton Law Group is pleased to offer their clients a full range of legal services. The Breton Law Group offers personal services to their clients in the areas of real estate transactions, estate planning and family law. They also offer a considerable range of business services including strategic advice, corporate structures and commercial transactions, tax planning, labour and employment advice. The Breton Law Group has experienced litigators and mediators available to assist you. Their firm is supported by an experienced and responsive staff. The Breton Law Group employs clerical and administrative staff as well as a full complement of property, corporate and litigation paralegal support. This support enables them to offer their clients timely and trusted advice in a cost effective manner. They invite you to come in and talk to them for a complete profile of their team and services. The Breton Law Group look forward to working with you.

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292 Charlotte Street Sydney, NS B1P 1C7

902-563-1000

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Trifos Design Consultants

Trifos Design Consultants is an Architectural/Interior-Design Firm providing a broad range of services; including complete architectural design, interior design, working drawings and specifications, restoration & heritage design, historic-building assessments, site selection, space planning, master planning, development studies, feasibility studies, materials research, construction-administration services, building surveys, assessment reports, area certifications/analysis, cost advice, and furniture & fittings selection. Noted for excellence in design and Client service, Trifos Design Consultants has been in operation since 1986, with a full staff complement of architectural, design, technical, and administrative personnel.

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7 Cromarty Street Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada B1P 4V9

(902) 539-8079

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Vibe Creative Group

Vibe Creative Group is a creative agency that works on a national stage. Since 2002, the Vibe team has provided exceptional marketing communications results for businesses, organizations and governments within Nova Scotia and across Canada. There are many things that make us who we are – our people, our clients, our ideas. From branding and digital marketing to event coordination, interiors and strategic planning, our dynamic team is ready to work with you to deliver clear, effective marketing communications through inspired design.   Our services include: Strategic Branding Creative Graphic Design Web Design Public Relations Consulting Interiors

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Tracey Boutilier

Owner

181 Charlotte Street, Sydney, NS, B1P 6H2

902-539-3870

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Virtual Adviser Program

Get one-on-one support from an experienced business adviser. Our free Virtual Adviser Program powered by BoomersPlus.com will match you with a seasoned professional to help you solve a unique challenge your business is facing during this difficult time. The program is available to businesses operating in Cape Breton. The Virtual Adviser Program is powered by BoomersPlus.com which specializes in matching organizations with seasoned talent to fill project or term roles. Their network includes thousands of professionals, managers and executives ready to share their experience and expertise.

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Shannon McNeil

Business Planning Advisor

285 Alexandra Street, Sydney, NS,

902-562-0122

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VMP Group

VMP Group is all about engagement, from engaging their clients, to understanding their goals, to developing digital solutions, to helping them engage their customers. It’s a philosophy that’s been working for more than two decades.

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319 Charlotte Street 3rd Floor Sydney, NS B1P 1E1

902-562-8006

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Cape Breton Partnership-Export Growth Service

The Export Growth Service (EGS) is comprised of a Development Team, an Advisory Team, and an Export Intern, who together provide access to export-related services for businesses including counselling, mentoring, planning strategies, information, workshops, training, and advice on existing programming. Fulfilled through an annual Export Conference going on its second year, holding Export Round Tables across Cape Breton, a monthly newsletter known as the ‘Trading Post’, and one-on-one meetings with new and experienced exporters.

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Lan Zheng

902-217-3065

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Cape Breton Partnership-Global Skills Strategy

The Cape Breton Partnership is a referral partner to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Dedicated Service Channel (DSC). This is a dedicated service for employers to navigate Canada’s immigration system to meet their needs. The DSC gives employers access to an account manager who can: Assess the employer’s needs Answer the employer’s questions Give the employer guidance

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Omar Tag El-Din

902-562-0122

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Cape Breton Partnership-Land Assets

The Land Asset website can direct you to available land assets on Cape Breton Island.

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902-562-0122

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Cape Breton Regional Enterprise Network

The Cape Breton Regional Enterprise Network (CBREN) spans the Island and has the primary goal of supporting the development and attraction of new businesses, and the retention and expansion of existing businesses. CBREN staff are based across the region in Sydney, Baddeck, Port Hood, Inverness and St. Peter’s. The Economic Development team provides support, counselling and guidance to businesses at every stage. Services offered include: Business planning Connecting businesses to support programs and economic development partners Providing support and direction to entrepreneurs considering a business start-up Monitoring workforce training requirements Working with businesses to identify programs and initiatives for their existing workforce

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Shannon MacNeil

902-562-0122

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Cape Breton University – Innovation and Entrepreneurial Centre

The Cape Breton University Innovation and Entrepreneurial Centre is an inspiring community space where students from all five of CBU’s schools and diverse student body can meet to brainstorm, learn, collaborate and work together.

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Todd Graham

902-565-9004

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Cape Breton University – Office of Research and Graduate Studies

Programs and supports offered include: Provides mentoring and supports to entrepreneurs seeking assistance and mentoring around how to start and grow their business Develops and manages research partnerships between various academic units and entrepreneurs Works with companies to help them access students, faculty experts, research departments and specialized equipment for R&D projects through fully funded programs such as Springboard, NRCIRAP, Mitacs, NSERC, Engage, Innovation and Productivity Vouchers, etc. Works with companies to help them access students, faculty experts, research departments and specialized equipment for R&D projects Provides companies with training and mentoring services through targeted workshops, one-on-one meetings, guest speakers, industry sessions, specialized sector meeting and other industry – university collaborative opportunities

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Sarah Conrod

902-563-1842

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Cape Breton University-Startup Cape Breton

Startup Cape Breton is an event that happens several times per year in CBU’s Verschuren Centre and is open to the public. Startup Cape Breton was created to promote entrepreneurship on the island by exploring new opportunities in technology, business, and education, and features speakers from Cape Breton, Atlantic Canada, and outside the region. Startup Cape Breton aims to support and promote the emerging startup community on the island, to help it capitalize on its strengths in creativity and human resources with a goal that the island be home to hundreds of startups. Plans are underway to grow the concept from an event to a social hub, with more frequent and various programming.

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Capital Investment Tax Credit

The Nova Scotia Capital Investment Tax Credit (CITC) is a refundable corporate income tax credit claimed by eligible corporations for capital equipment acquired for use in Nova Scotia on or after January 1, 2015. The capital equipment must be acquired as part of an “approved project”. The rate of the tax credit is 15 per cent of the capital cost of “qualified property” acquired in a taxation year, with a maximum tax credit of $30 million per “approved project.” Find the guidelines here: https://www.novascotia.ca/finance/site-finance/media/finance/CITC_Guidelines.pdf  

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CBDC – Northside Victoria

As CBDCs, we assist in the creation of small businesses and in the expansion and modernization of existing businesses by providing financial and technical services to entrepreneurs. 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. In Nova Scotia, there are 13 CBDCs offering financial, training and advisory services to entrepreneurs. The CBDCs work collectively through the Nova Scotia Association of CBDCs, an umbrella organization that supports the common needs of the CBDCs. CBDCs share best practices promote entrepreneurship and deliver provincial initiatives such as Students in Business and the Youth Internship Program.

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Gordie McGean

Executive Director

1 Fraser Avenue, Suite 7 Sydney Mines, NS B1V 2Y4

(902) 736-6211

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CBDC – Social Enterprise Loan

CBDC Social Enterprise Loans and financing is available to non-profits, including charities, cooperatives or societies in need of business support (in the form of a loan or loan guarantee). Financing will be used to buy assets, renovate existing ones or to expand a social enterprise. CBDC Social Enterprise Loans are specifically intended to provide financial support for revenue generating business operations of officially registered non-profit organizations. The CBDC offers loans of up to $150,000 per eligible applicant. (Loans are repayable with competitive interest rates and repayment terms).

The Social Enterprise Loan may be used to purchase machinery, equipment or other items necessary for continued business operations. Loan amortizations of up to ten years are available. This is based on the life expectancy of the asset(s) the Social Enterprise is using the funds to acquire.

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