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

Maritime Environmental Training Institute

Maritime Environmental Training Institute (METI) is a private career college, providing occupational, environmental health and safety training through their accredited and industry-approved full-time programs, safety courses, safety services, and in-demand online training. METI’s training is geared to provide students with the knowledge, skills and certification needed to meet the requirements of a person employed in a variety of industries. METI is centrally located in Sydney, Nova Scotia (Cape Breton) and occupies 18,000 square feet along with a modern training yard, measuring 2.5 acres, making it an ideal setting for your safety training, safety courses, safety certification and safety services.

READ MORE

301 Alexandra Street Sydney, Nova Scotia B1S 2E8

(902) 539-9766

Visit website

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 MORE

Alex Paul

201 Churchill Dr Suite 201, Membertou, NS B1S 0H1

902-562-4700

Visit website

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.

READ MORE

1240 Grand Lake Road Sydney, Nova Scotia B1P 6J7

902-563-2450

Visit website

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.

READ MORE

226 Reeves Street Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia B9A 2A2

902-625-2380

Visit website

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

READ MORE

Amanda Mombourquette or Donald Hanson

Community Innovation Lead

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

Visit website

Agricultural Production Extension Program

Informally known as ‘farm extension’, this program has been provided by Perennia since 2001 at no cost to eligible producers, or cost recovery for some basic costs not covered by the program. Sectors covered include: horticulture, livestock, field crops and soils for both conventional and organic systems. Services covered by the program include: individual farm advice by phone, electronically and in person at the discretion of the specialist; publications and information online and in hard copy; virtual and in-person workshops and field days; and sector development projects. with collaborative partners.

READ MORE

902-678-7722

Visit website

AgriMarketing Program: Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Component

The Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) Component provides targeted support to companies for international initiatives. All activities must promote international business development and must go beyond the applicant’s core activities and represent new initiatives that provide an opportunity to yield incremental results. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) funding for a project will normally not exceed $50,000 per fiscal year; and $100,000 over two consecutive fiscal years and an applicant can apply more than once, but for each applicant, funding will not be more than $250,000 over five years.

READ MORE

Laurie Sanderson

Visit website Visit secondary website

BIONOVA – BioInnovation Challenge

The BioInnovation Challenge is an Atlantic Canadian business competition to recognize significant commercialization potential in Health and Life Sciences. BioNova understands that, more than ever, a strong and vibrant economy in the province requires continuous innovation and the creation of new Nova Scotian Health and Life Sciences companies. Early stage companies evolve over time to become major employers in the community and encourage a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation – key ingredients for prosperity.

READ MORE

Scott Moffitt

902-421-5705

Visit website

BIONOVA – Financial BioBusiness Accelerator Program (BAP)

BioNova’s BAP program is a suite of individual program initiatives that are assembled based on the present day needs of the local life science community. The program has an over-arching goal to move businesses down the commercialization pathway faster to get technologies and products to the market sooner. The suite of programs offered include: Investor Kit Program Photography Portfolio Project Investor Pitch Training Specific Consulting Engagements Business Development Assistance and Consulting Reimbursement Assessments

READ MORE

Scott Moffitt

902-421-5705

Visit website

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.

READ MORE

Roger Smith

BBI Northern Region

Visit website

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.

READ MORE

Roger Smith

BBI Northern Region

Visit website

Business Management Skills Training

Our team offers many different types of training programs all intended to help business people and entrepreneurs improve their business management skills so they can improve their businesses or build new ones. We provide business skills training on lots of different and business topics, such as market development, feasibility studies, bookkeeping, finance, business analysis and more.

READ MORE

Cape Breton Music Industry Cooperative

The Cape Breton Music Industry Cooperative (CBMIC) supports members of the Cape Breton music industry by providing them with the training, information and resources needed to establish themselves as viable industry professionals and to succeed in business. Throughout the year, CBMIC offers:

Business development workshops for new and existing musicians
Collaborates with partners to host business-to-business meetings for Cape Breton musicians with incoming buyer delegations during the East Coast Music Week, Nova Scotia Music Week and Celtic Colours
Hosts showcases where Cape Breton artists can apply to participate
Offers the Product Development Program to offer a funding assistance program to Cape Breton artists who are planning on recording new music product for the purposes of artist development and export growth opportunities. Potential eligible costs under this program are studio prep and recording time, engineers, producers, equipment rental, studio musicians, mixing, mastering, video production, editing project and art work both digital and print

READ MORE

Duane Nardoccio

(902) 577-2547

Visit website

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.

READ MORE

Todd Graham

902-565-9004

Visit website

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.

READ MORE

Gordie McGean

Executive Director

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

(902) 736-6211

Visit website