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 MOREFuturpreneur Canada Newcomer Financing Program
If you’re new to Canada and don’t have a credit history, Futurpreneur Canada wants to help you launch your business. We provide tailored support and eligibility criteria to reflect your new status in Canada. Using character-based lending, our program for newcomers provides greater flexibility than most banks. But we can’t do it alone. We’re able to finance up to $7,500 per business. If you need more money, BDC may provide up to another $7,500. Eligibility requirements apply.
READ MOREFuturpreneur Canada Newcomer Mentoring Program
Futurpreneur Canada’s Newcomer offering includes participation in our 2 year industry-leading mentoring program. We’ll match you with a business professional to suit your needs and help increase your opportunity for success.
Business mentoring can help you:
Gain insight and perspective by having someone to bounce your ideas off of.
Identify opportunities and risks by learning from someone experienced.
Focus on and strategically work towards your business vision.
Grow your own business network and enhance your business acumen.
Shorten your learning curve.
Build confidence knowing you have someone in your corner.
Futurpreneur Canada Resources for Social Enterprises
Discover resources to help you start a business with a social purpose. Find tips, tools, guides, plans, and more.
READ MOREGAC – Going Global Innovation
The Going Global Innovation (GGI) program is specifically designed to promote and enhance Canada’s international innovation efforts. The program supports innovators who aim to commercialize technology by pursuing collaborative international research and development (R&D) opportunities through partnerships with key players in foreign markets. Eligible beneficiaries are innovators from Canadian small or medium size enterprises, academic Institutions and nongovernment research centres. GGI provides assistance by funding up to 75% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $75,000 for any approved project. Eligible expenses may include: international and local travel, accommodation, meals, meeting costs, legal fees to support the formalization of partnership agreements, and other costs related to pursuing international collaboration.
READ MOREGlobal Affairs Canada – Business Women in International Trade
The Business Women in International Trade (BWIT) program of the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) helps open doors and opportunities for Canadian women-owned businesses to successfully expand into global markets. BWIT works with Canadian businesses that are at least 51% owned, as well as managed and controlled by one or more women. It can connect you with export advice and support by introducing you to trade commissioners in more than 160 cities worldwide and offers: Women-focused trade missions Funding and financing Exporting advice and support International contacts and opportunities
READ MOREbwit@international.gc.ca
Visit websiteGlobal Affairs Canada – CanExport
CanExport SMEs provides financial assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) registered in Canada to help them develop export opportunities for their product or service in new international markets. The program is delivered by the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) of Global Affairs Canada, in partnership with the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP).
READ MOREGlobal Affairs Canada – Market Research
Learn what steps to follow to become export-ready, how to sell to foreign governments, about export processes and requirements, and discover the benefits of global value chains. Get practical advice from Canadian companies and experts via Canada Export stories, podcasts and webinars. Information includes: Tools and resources Trade agreements Tarrifs, sanctions, and export controls Country and sector Information
READ MOREGlobal Affairs Canada – Trade and Investment Agreements
Discover new opportunities to expand your international footprint. Canada’s broad (and growing) trade network gives Canadian companies preferred access to diverse markets all over the world. This site explores Canada’s free trade agreements (FTA), foreign investment promotion and protection agreements (FIPA), plurilateral agreements, and World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements.
READ MOREGlobal Affairs Canada – Trade Commissioner Service
Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service helps thousands of Canadian small and medium sized enterprises tackle concrete problems and uncover export opportunities through the following services: Help you expand to global markets Help connect your business in the market Help you find key contacts in the market Provide you with business insight Will try to help you reduce your risks Assist you in finding new opportunities Assist you in resolving business issues in foreign markets
READ MORE