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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Amanda Mombourquette

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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Atlantic Provinces Economic Council on “Navigating US Trade Uncertainty; A Practical Guide for Firms”

This APEC report provides a practical guide to help businesses understand and access most favourable tariff treatment, facilitate temporary entry of professional and service personnel, access procurement opportunities, decisions to diversify to non-US markets, and government resources to assist in accessing export markets.

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BDC – Advisory Services

BDC consultants and highly experienced specialists can help your business scale up, be more productive, innovate and globalize. Advisory services are available for challenges associated with: Management Coaching for Small Business Business Transformation Sales and Marketing International Growth Operational Efficiency Certification Digital Program for SMEs Growth Driver Program

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Jonathan MacNeil

1-888-463-6232

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BDC – Business Financing

BDC’s mission is to help create and develop strong businesses through financing, consulting services and securitization, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises. Through their subsidiary, BDC Capital, it also offers a full spectrum of specialized – financing, including venture capital, equity, as well as growth and business transition capital. Term loans may be used for the following: Start or buy a business Buy, build or renovate your facilities Buy equipment Research and develop new products Develop new markets for your products Acquire information and communications technology Sell your business

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Jonathan MacNeil

1-888-463-6232

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BDC – Indigenous Entrepreneur Loan

This loan offers up to $250,000 to start or grow your business, whether you operate on or off Reserve. Flexible repayment terms, a loan that gives back to charity and limited personal risk are features of this loan. Use the Indigenous Entrepreneur Loan to: Acquire fixed assets Finance franchise fees Cover start-up costs Start exporting Replenish working capital

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Jonathan MacNeil

1-888-463-6232

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BDC – New Canadian Entrepreneur Loan

Access up to $50,000 in financing for Newcomer Entrepreneurs.

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Jonathan MacNeil

1-888-463-6232

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BDC- Market Research and Statistics

Find information that can help you make informed decisions and maximize the potential of your business. Learn more about your industry, as well as current and potential customers, competitors, and markets.   Conducting market research – Learn more about market research, how it can improve your business decisions, and how to conduct a market research campaign. Industry sector data – Find statistics that can help you better understand your industry, and study the latest trends that could impact your business. General research and statistics – Discover resources available through Canada Business Network Service centres, Statistics Canada, Canada’s government libraries and the United Nations.

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BDC- Small Business Loan Online

BDC as of late has seen a lot of success supporting entrepreneurs through our online financing solution up to 100k. If you are a business who need access working capital lending to help better manage your cash flow, we have a really quick and easy to apply solution that can be done online: BDC online Loan Features: Financing up to $100,000 (total) Secured with a personal guarantee Amortized over 5 years plus an upfront 6-month postponement of principal payment No application fee Funds are disbursed immediately, no proof of expenditures required Everything is done electronically Loan can be fully repaid with no penalty Special limited time interest rates Eligibility: Must be in business producing revenue for at least 24 months Good credit history

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Adam Bateman

Account Manager

275 Charlotte Street, Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 1C6

(902) 403-3912

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Become a Franchisee

Go in business for yourself with the support of a credible franchise system! With hundreds of franchise opportunities in Canada, LookforaFranchise.ca is the most comprehensive online directory of legitimate franchise business investments available. We make searching for a franchise easy – you can find franchises by company name, location, investment or industry.

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Black Business Initiative Constructing the Future Training

Constructing the Future is a program aimed at increasing the participation of working age tradespersons in the mainstream economy of Nova Scotia. It will equip existing and aspiring tradespersons from the Black community with enhanced skills, basic certifications and competencies to establish a stronger presence in Nova Scotia’s construction sector.   This program offers participants hands-on work experience through eight weeks on-the-job training. Participants receive a stipend (weekly allowance) while undertaking the program. Participants build the required confidence, skills and knowledge to work in the construction sector: secure a job, start a business, or go back to trades school.

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Roger Smith

BBI Northern Region

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Black Business Initiative Financial Programs

The Black Business Initiative (BBI) promotes and assists in the development of Nova Scotia Black-owned businesses providing business development assistance. BBI provides financial assistance in the form of loans up to $25,000 and facilitates access to other financing. BBI also provides business training programs and opportunities.   Ownership must be 33% black and must be a registered proprietorship, partnerships or limited company. Participants must have a viable business plan, with two year cash flow projections, the ability to repay the loan and a suitable management strategy is required. Types of loans provided include Capital Equipment Acquisition, Working Capital, or Short-term receivable financing.

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Roger Smith

BBI Northern Region

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