Cumberland 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 Cumberland County site is located at:

Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association
35 Church Street
Box 546
Amherst, Nova Scotia  B4H 4A1
Telephone: 902-667-3638
Fax: 902-667-2270
Toll-free (information): 1-866-713-3588
E-mail: cerc@creda.net
Web site: http://www.creda.net/

Partners located at this centre include:

• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency  
• The Cumberland Development Corporation
• Nova Scotia Office of Economic Development - Community and Rural Development

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

The Area Account Manager for Cumberland County:

Ms. Darlene Stevenson
Area Account Manager
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Nova Scotia 
Telephone: 902-895-2743
Fax: 902-897-1157
Toll-free (information): 1-800-565-1228
E-mail: darlene.stevenson@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.acoa.gc.ca/e/

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/

Access Nova Scotia

Access Nova Scotia is a provincial government initiative through Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations 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 Cumberland County is located in Amherst:

Access Nova Scotia Centre
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
Superstore Mall
126 South Albion Street
Amherst, Nova Scotia  B4H 2X3
Toll-free (information): 1-800-670-4357
E-mail: askus@gov.ns.ca
Web site: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr

Amherst Department of Community and Economic Development

The broad mandate of the department includes four focus areas: encouraging new investment; supporting existing businesses; community and tourism development; and, parks and recreation development. 

For further information, please contact:
Community and Economic Development
Town of Amherst
5 Ratchford Street
P.O. Box 516
Amherst, Nova Scotia  B4H 4A1
Telephone: 902-667-6523
Fax: 902-667-5409
E-mail: economic.development@town.amherst.ns.ca
Web site: http://www.amherstns.com

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

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)

CIPO is responsible for giving information on all areas of intellectual property, which are: Patents, Trade-marks, Copyright, Industrial Design, and Integrated Circuit Topographies.

For more 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

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/

Amherst and Area Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 283
Amherst, Nova Scotia  B4H 3Z4
Telephone: 902-667-3352
Fax: 902-667-3356
Web site: http://www.amherstchamberofcommerce.com/

Parrsboro and District Board of Trade
P.O. Box 297
Parrsboro, Nova Scotia  B0M 1S0
Telephone: 902-254-3266
E-mail: admin@pdbot.com
Web site: http://www.pdbot.com/

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

The Cumberland Development Corporation Ltd.

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:
Community Business Development Corporations
35 Church Street
P.O. Box 487
Amherst, Nova Scotia  B4H 4A1
Telephone: (902) 667-5700
Fax: (902) 667-1452
Toll-free (information): 1-888-303-2232
E-mail: randy.smith@cbdc.ca
Web site: http://cumberland-cbdc.ca/

Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association (CREDA)

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:
Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association
35 Church Street
Box 546
Amherst, Nova Scotia  B4H 4A1
Telephone: 902-667-3638
Fax: 902-667-2270
Toll-free (information): 1-866-713-3588
E-mail: cerc@creda.net
Web site: http://www.creda.net/

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 Cumberland County:

Amherst Industrial Park
Oxford Industrial Park
Parrsboro Industrial Park
Springhill Geothermal Industrial Park

For further information, please contact:
Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association
35 Church Street
Box 546
Amherst, Nova Scotia  B4H 4A1
Telephone: 902-667-3638
Fax: 902-667-2270
Toll-free (information): 1-866-713-3588
E-mail: cerc@creda.net
Web site: http://www.creda.net/

Municipal Contacts

To locate municipal contact information for your region, town municipality, rural municipality, or village contact Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations:

Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
Public enquiries
Mail room, 8 South, Maritime Centre
1505 Barington Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia  B35 3K5
Telephone: 902-424-5200
Fax: 902-424-0720
Toll-free (information): 1-800-670-4357
E-mail: askus@gov.ns.ca
Web site: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr

Address for mail enquiries only.  For walk-in service, please visit your local Access Nova Scotia centre.

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 Cumberland County is in Truro:

Mr. David Copus
Nova Scotia Business Inc.
Suite 101
35 Commercial Street
Truro, Nova Scotia  B2N 3H9
Telephone: (902) 893-6156
Fax: (902) 893-6108
E-mail: copusd@gov.ns.ca
Web site: http://www.novascotiabusiness.com/services/advisory/index.html

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:
Mr. Roger Gerrard
Rural Development Officer
Nova Scotia Office of Economic Development
35 Church Street
Amherst, Nova Scotia  B4H 4A1
Telephone: 902-667-3223
Fax: 902-667-2270
E-mail: gerrarra@gov.ns.ca
Web site: http://www.gov.ns.ca/econ/

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.