Cape Breton County Resources

Summary

Community Business Resource Network

To serve you better, the Canada/Nova Scotia Business Service Centre has entered into partnerships to create ten Community Business Resource Sites throughout Nova Scotia. The resources, available at each site, include free Internet access for business research and a selection of frequently used reference publications.

For a list of all sites see the document Community Business Resource Network.

The Cape Breton County site is located at:
Cape Breton County Regional Development Authority
338 Charlotte Street, 3rd floor
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1P 1C8
Telephone: 902-562-2201
Fax: 902-562-2866
Toll-free (information): 1-800-818-2201
E-mail: info@cbceda.org
Web site: http://www.cbceda.org/

Partners located at this centre include:

• Nova Scotia Office of Economic Development

Nova Scotia Office of Economic Development - Community and Rural Development

The Community and Rural Development branch helps communities and business organizations capitalize on strengths and opportunities to grow the rural economy. Staff can provide information on how to access provincial economic development programs and services.

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Catherine Ann Fuller
Rural Development Officer
Nova Scotia Office of Economic Development
338 Charlotte Street, 1st floor
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1P 1C8
Telephone: (902) 563-2070
Fax: (902) 563-0500
E-mail: fullerca@gov.ns.ca
Web site: http://www.gov.ns.ca/econ/card/

Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority

Coordinates and integrates the work of other local agencies and service providers in order to achieve specific tasks at the community level.

For further information, please contact:
Cape Breton County Regional Development Authority
338 Charlotte Street, 3rd floor
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1P 1C8
Telephone: 902-562-2201
Fax: 902-562-2866
Toll-free (information): 1-800-818-2201
E-mail: info@cbceda.org
Web site: http://www.cbceda.org/

Coastal Business Opportunities Incorporated

Flexible term loan programs for small and medium-sized businesses. Up to $150,000 in financing for business start-ups, expansions and other business purposes including fixed asset acquisitions, working capital and change of ownership.

For further information, please contact:
Coastal Business Opportunities Incorporated
Community Business Development Corporations
292 Charlotte Street, Suite 100
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1P 1C7
Telephone: (902) 539-4332
Fax: (902) 562-1016
Toll-free (information): 1-877-232-2269
E-mail: patricia.macneil@cbdc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca

Access Nova Scotia

Access Nova Scotia is a provincial government initiative through Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations that is designed to improve your access to government information, programs and services. Access Centres provide Information on provincial permits, approvals and licenses for business and limited services of the Registry of Joint Stock Companies. Many Access Centres have free computer access and a wide-range of business-related materials in a variety of formats - print, video, CD-Rom and computer disk. Using ANS Centres you can link directly to the Nova Scotia Public Tenders Noticeboard.

The Access Centre in Cape Breton County is located in Sydney.

For further information, please contact:
Access Nova Scotia Centre
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
Moxham Centre
380 King's Road
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1S 1A8
Toll-free (information): 1-800-670-4357
Web site: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)

ACOA provides financial assistance to business in the following sectors/areas:

• manufacturing & processing (involves value-added activity)
• tourism
• aquaculture
• innovation (new or improved product, service, or process)
• information and technology based industries
• non commercial services to business which are not personal in nature

ACOA does not provide financial assistance to the following sectors/areas:

• real estate development
• government services
• services of a personal nature
• retail or wholesale
• purchase of an existing business
• debt consolidation or restructuring
• business in a fully competitive local market

For more information, contact the Canada/Nova Scotia Business Service Centre at 426-8604 or
1-800-668-1010 or visit ACOA's Web site at: http://www.acoa.gc.ca/e/

ACOA programs and services for Cape Breton County are administered by the Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation.

For more information, please contact:
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
70 Crescent Street
P.O. Box 1750
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1P 6T7
Telephone: (902) 564-3600
Fax: (902) 564-3825
Toll-free (information): 1-800-705-3926
E-mail: ecbcinfo@ecbc.ca
Web site: http://www.ecbc.ca/e/default.asp

Black Business Initiative (BBI)

The BBI is a province-wide business development initiative designed to support the development of business and job opportunities among African-Canadian Nova Scotians.

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Starr Francis
Black Business Initiative
1575 Brunswick street
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3J 2G1
Telephone: 902-426-2224 ext. 0
Fax: 902-426-6530
Toll-free (information): 1-800-668-1010
E-mail: bbi@bbi.ns.ca
Web site: http://www.bbi.ns.ca

Business Development Bank of Canada

Structured to meet the financial needs of businesses. The Bank also provides training and other assistance services.

For further information, please contact:
Business Development Bank of Canada
275 Charlotte Street, Suite 117
Sydney, Quebec  B1P 1C6
Telephone: (902) 564-7700
Fax: (902) 564-3975
Toll-free (information): 1-877-BDC BANX (1-877-232-2269)
E-mail: info@bdc.ca
Web site: http://www.bdc.ca/en/home.htm

Canadian Federation of Independent Business

A national organization representing 100,000 small and medium-sized business owners with a voice over laws that govern business in Canada.

For further information, please contact:
Canadian Federation of Independent Business
Suite 819
1888 Brunswick street
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3J 3J8
Telephone: 902-420-1997
Fax: 902-422-8270
Toll-free (information): 1-877-210-4527
E-mail: msns@cfib.ca
Web site: http://www.cfib.ca/default_E.asp?l=E

Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)

Responsible for giving information on all areas of intellectual property, which are: patents, trade-marks, copyright, industrial design, and integrated circuit topographies.

For further information, please contact:
Mr. Tom Boyd
Business Development Officer
Canadian Intellectual Property Office
1575 Brunswick Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3J 2G1
Telephone: (902) 426-6476
Fax: (902) 426-6530
Toll-free (information): 1-800-668-1010
E-mail: boyd.tom@cbsc.ic.gc.ca
Web site: http://cipo.gc.ca

Cape Breton Growth Fund Corporation

The objective of the Cape Breton Growth Fund Corporation is to promote sustainable long term economic development for Cape Breton Island.

For further information, please contact:
Cape Breton Growth Fund Corporation
70 Crescent Street, P.O.Box 1264
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1P 6T7
Telephone: 902-564-5600
Fax: 902-564-3825
E-mail: ecbcinfo@ecbc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbgf.ca/e/Home/default.asp

Cape Breton YMCA Enterprise Centre

Offers training to introduce would-be entrepreneurs to the fundamentals of planning and operating a small business.

For further information, please contact:
Cape Breton YMCA Enterprise Centre
106 Reserve Street
Glace Bay  B1A 4W5
Telephone: 902-849-1794
Fax: 902-849-5042
Toll-free (information): 1-877-636-5655
E-mail: smallbusiness@cbymca.com
Web site: http://www.cbymca.com/

Chambers, Boards of Trade, and Partnerships

Nova Scotia Chambers of Commerce
605 Prince Street
Truro, Nova Scotia  B2N 5B6
Telephone: 902-895-6329
Fax: 902-897-6641
E-mail: info@nschamber.ca
Web site: http://www.nschamber.ca/

Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce
P.O.Box 131
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1P 6G9
Telephone: 902-564-6453
Fax: 902-539-7487
E-mail: info@sydneyareachamber.ca
Web site: http://www.sydneyareachamber.ca/

Community Access Program (CAP)

Provides public computer access to the Internet at the local community level. The overall objective is to provide all Canadians with affordable, convenient access to the global knowledge-based economy and the opportunity to use its technologies.

For further information, please contact:
Community Access Program (CAP)
Industry Canada
Nova Scotia 
Toll-free (information): 1-800-268-6608, 1-800-575-9200
Web site: http://cap.ic.gc.ca

Community Profiles

The following web sites provide a variety of information (labour market/statistical) about selected communities in Nova Scotia:

Human Resources and Social Development:
http://www.labourmarketinformation.ca

Statistics Canada:
http://www12.statcan.ca/english/profil01/CP01/Index.cfm?Lang=E

Le Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse

A non-profit organization which promotes economic development and the creation of sustainable jobs for Acadians and francophones in Nova Scotia.

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Julie Oliver
Executive Director
Le Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse
Suite 603
2000 Barrington Street
Cogswell Tower
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B3J 3K1
Telephone: 902-424-7230
Fax: 902-424-6002
Toll-free (information): 1-866-552-3363
E-mail: joliver@cdene.ns.ca
Web site: http://www.cdene.ns.ca

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation

A federal crown corporation dedicated to providing direct financial assistance or leadership for specific ventures including: Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry, Fisheries and Small Business.

For further information, please contact:
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
70 Crescent Street
P.O. Box 1750
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1P 6T7
Telephone: (902) 564-3600
Fax: (902) 564-3825
Toll-free (information): 1-800-705-3926
E-mail: ecbcinfo@ecbc.ca
Web site: http://www.ecbc.ca/e/default.asp

Industrial Parks

There are over 60 business/industrial parks in Nova Scotia with serviced and non-serviced lots of all sizes with incubator malls at specific locations. Many have existing buildings for sale or lease and provide build-to-order services. These sites are placed for cost-efficient transport to market, include all the usual services and amenities, and are attractively priced.

The following industrial parks are located in Cape Breton County:

• Cossitt Heights Business and Industrial
• Northside Industrial
• Sydport Industrial

For further information, please contact:
Cape Breton County Regional Development Authority
338 Charlotte Street, 3rd floor
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1P 1C8
Telephone: 902-562-2201
Fax: 902-562-2866
Toll-free (information): 1-800-818-2201
E-mail: info@cbceda.org
Web site: http://www.cbceda.org/

The Marketing Research Centre (MRC)

Provides marketing research (i.e. polling, focus groups, and market research for businesses, universities, and the general public). Fee for service.

For further information, please contact:
UCCB Marketing Research Centre
P.O.Box 876
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1P 6J1
Telephone: 902-567-0674
Fax: 902-567-2635
E-mail: marketen@webx.uccb.ns.ca
Web site: http://webx.uccb.ns.ca/

Municipal Contacts

To locate municipal contact information for your region, town municipality, rural municipality, or village visit the following Web site. http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr

For further information, please contact:
Access Nova Scotia Centre
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
Moxham Centre
380 King's Road
Sydney, Nova Scotia  B1S 1A8
Toll-free (information): 1-800-670-4357
Web site: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr

Northside Economic Development Assistance Corporation (NEDAC)

Flexible term loan programs for small and medium-sized businesses. Up to $150,000 in financing for business start-ups, expansions and other business purposes including fixed asset acquisitions, working capital and change of ownership.

For further information, please contact:
Northside Economic Development Assistance Corporation
Community Business Development Corporations
1 Fraser Avenue, Suite 7
P.O. Box 99
Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia  B1V 2Y4
Telephone: 902-736-6211
Fax: 902-736-6212
Toll-free (information): 1-888-303-2232
E-mail: bruce.macdonald@cbdc.ca
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca

Nova Scotia Business Inc.

Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) is a private-sector-led organization whose goal is to expand business activity in Nova Scotia. NSBI is primarily focused upon activities that result in sustainable, value-added growth to the economy in order to increase employment and provincial revenues.

The closest Nova Scotia Business Inc. office to Cape Breton County is in Port Hawkesbury.

For further information, please contact:
Ms. Lisa Dobson
Nova Scotia Business Inc.
32 Paint Street, unit 5
Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia  B9A 3J8
Telephone: 902-625-4205
Fax: 902-625-1559
E-mail: dobsonla@gov.ns.ca
Web site: http://www.novascotiabusiness.com/services/advisory/index.html

Open For Business

Offers a dynamic environment where you can discover and fine-tune your business skills, or take that great idea and turn it into a successful entrepreneurial adventure. The staff can give you great advice on anything you ever wanted to know about business: developing a business plan, getting your business off the ground, marketing your product, bookkeeping, expanding your company and much, much more. Drop in and talk to one of the Entrepreneurship Apprentices about your business ideas or concerns.

For further information, please contact:
Open For Business
63 Minimall Dr.
P.O. Box 7071
Eskasoni, Nova Scotia  B1W 1A1
Telephone: 902-379-2705
Fax: 902-379-2411

Special Programs/Services

There are special programs/services for entrepreneurs in the following categories:
Aboriginal, Black, Disabled, Employment Insurance (EI) Recipient, Immigrant, and Young Entrepreneur (16-34). If you would like further information on any of these programs, contact the Canada/Nova Scotia Business Service Centre.

This information is updated on a regular basis, but organizations change unpredictably – therefore, not all the information as presented may be timely or accurate.