Victoria County Resources

Summary

Community Business Resource Site

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.

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 services of the Registry of Joint Stock Companies.

The Access Centre closest to Victoria County is in Sydney, Cape Breton County.

For further information, please contact:
Access Nova Scotia
Toll-free: 1-800-670-4357
Website: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr
E-mail: askus@gov.ns.ca
Address: 380 King’s Road
Sydney, NS B1S 1A8

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-apeca.gc.ca/e/index.shtml

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

For further information, please contact:
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
Phone: (902) 564-3600
Toll free: 1-800-705-3926
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:
Black Business Initiative
Phone: (902) 426-2224
Toll Free: 1-800-668-1010 (Press 1,3)
Fax: (902) 426-6530
E-mail: bbi@bbi.ns.ca
Web site: http://www.bbi.ns.ca
Address: 1575 Brunswick Street
Halifax, NS B3J 2G1

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
Contact:Leanne Hachey
Phone: (902) 420-1997
Fax: (902) 422-8270
Web site: http://www.cfib.ca
Address: 1888 Brunswick Street, Suite 819
Halifax, NS B3J 3G8

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
Phone: 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.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/gateways/where_you_live/regions/ns.shtml
Statistics Canada :
http://www12.statcan.ca/english/Profil01/PlaceSearchForm1.cfm

Le Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse

Is 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:
Le Conseil de développement économique de la Nouvelle-Écosse
Contact: Julie Oliver, Executive Director
Phone: (902) 424-7230
Fax: (902) 424-6002
E-mail: joliver@cdene.ns.ca
Web site: http://www.cdene.ns.ca (not available in English)
Address: Cogswell Tower
2000 Barrington Street Suite 603
Halifax, NS B3J 3K1

EmployAbility Partnership

The EmplyAbility Partnership offers a wide variety of programs and services designed to get you into the workforce, with new skills, new training, and access to employment assistance. We work closely with local employers, offering incentives and subsidies to hire people with disabilities.

For further information, please contact:
Phone: (902) 539-5673
Toll Free: 1-888-336-1135
Fax: (902) 539-6226
E-mail:   info@employabilitypdpa.ca
Web site: www.employabilitypdpa.ca
Address: EmployAbility Partnership
500 George Street
Suite 250
Sydney, NS B1P 6R7

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation

A federal crown corporation dedicated to providing direct financial assistance or leadership in the delivery of ACOA programs for specific ventures including: manufacturing and processing, tourism, aquaculture, innovation, information and technology based industries, and non commercial services to business which are not personal in nature.

For further information, please contact:

Sydney
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
Phone: (902) 564-3600
Toll Free: 1-800-705-3926
Fax: (902) 564-3825
E-mail: ecbcinfo@ecbc.ca
Web site: http://www.ecbc.ca/e/default.asp
Address: Silicon Island
70 Crescent Street
Sydney, NS B1S 2Z7

Port Hawkesbury:
Phone: (902) 625-3111
Fax: (902) 625-3266
E-mail: Annette.Moar@ecbc.ca
Web site: http://www.ecbc.ca/e/default.asp
Address: 32 Paint Street Unit 1
Port Hawkesbury, NS B9A 3J8

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.

For a list of Industrial Parks and Malls in Nova Scotia visit: http://www.targetnovascotia.com/industrialparkpdfs.htm or call 1-800-668-1010 for the parks in your area.

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 contact:
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
Address:  West End Mall
6960 Mumford Road
Halifax, NS B3L 4P1
Phone: (902) 424-5200
Toll-free: 1-800-670-4357
Fax: (902) 424-0720
Web site: http://www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr
E-mail: askus@gov.ns.ca

Northside Economic Development Assistance Corporation

Flexible term loan programs for small and medium-sized businesses. Up to $125,000 in financing for business start-ups, expansions and other business purposes, including fixed asset acquisitions, working capital and change of ownership.

For further information contact:
Northside Economic Development Assistance Corporation
Phone: (902) 736-6211
Fax: (902) 736-6212
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca
E-mail:  bruce.macdonald@cbdc.ca
Address: P.O. Box 99
1 Fraser Avenue
Sydney Mines, NS B1V 2Y4

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 Victoria County is in Port Hawkesbury:

For further information contact:
Nova Scotia Business Inc.
Phone: (902) 625-4205
Fax: (902) 625-1559
Web site: http://www.novascotiabusiness.com/services/advisory/index.html
Address: 32 Paint Street Unit 5
Port Hawkesbury, NS B9A 3J8

Nova Scotia Economic Development - Rural Development

The 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.

The closest Nova Scotia Economic Development to Victoria County is in Syndey.

For further information, please contact:
Nova Scotia Economic Development
Phone: (902) 563-2070
Fax: (902) 563-0500
Address: 338 Charlotte Street 1st floor
Sydney, NS B1P 1C8
Web site: http://www.gov.ns.ca/econ/cedif

Rural Cape Breton District Planning Commission

Provides the planning, sub-division, development control, civic addressing and building inspection services for the counties of Inverness , Richmond , and Victoria and the Town of Port Hawkesbury .

For further information, please contact:
Rural Cape Breton District Planning Commission
Phone (Main): (902) 625-5361
Director: (902) 625-5364
Planning: (902) 625-5363
Subdivision: (902) 625-5365
Arichat:(902) 226-2900
Baddeck: (902) 295-2900
Port Hood: (902)787-2900
Civic Addressing:(902) 625-5366
Fax: (902) 625-1559
E-mail: jbain@rcbplan.ns.ca
Web site:http://www.rcbplan.ns.ca/

Strait-Highlands Regional Development Agency

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:
Strait-Highlands Regional Development Agency
Phone:(902) 625-3929
Fax: (902) 625-1559
E-mail: info@strait-highlands.ns.ca
Address: 32 Paint Street, Unit 5
Port Hawkesbury, NS B9A 3J8
Web site: http://www.strait-highlands.ns.ca/

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.

For networking opportunities, check the telephone book for aBoard of Trade or Chamber of Commerce in your area, or contact the Metropolitan Halifax Chamber of Commerce at (902) 468-7111 or visit their Web site at http://www.halifaxchamber.com

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