Young Entrepreneurs Info-Guide

This Info-Guide is designed to help you navigate through the different government programs and services for young entrepreneurs.  The selected items provide a helpful overview.  This list is not exhaustive.    Further information on each item can be obtained by contacting the organization directly or by contacting the Canada/Nova Scotia Business Service Centre at 426-8604 or 1-800-668-1010 or visiting our Web site at http://www.cbsc.org/ns.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.  Financial Assistance
2.  Support Services
3.  Training Programs
4.  Networking
5.  Awards
6.  Additional Info-Guides

1. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Seed Capital Program
- Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Age eligibility: 18 to 35 years old for start-up, expansion and modernization; 35+ for start-up only

This program offers loans of up to $20,000 for business start up or expansion, along with paying up to $2,000 for business counseling and training costs.  To qualify, a young entrepreneur does not necessarily require equity.  The loan can be used to attract other investors, but cannot be used to purchase an existing business.  This program, administered by the Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC) assists young entrepreneurs across Nova Scotia.  Contact the Community Business Development Corporation nearest you by calling 1-888-303-2232.

For further information
Contact the organization where your business will be situated (see list below)
Visit the web site: http://www.carrefour-capital.com 
See the document Seed Capital Program

The Student in Business (SIB) program is for students between the ages of 15 and 29. It offers up to $5000 per business in the form of a non-interest bearing loan and access to sources of start-up information, advice, and mentoring.  All types of business that are considered desirable and essential to your local community will be considered.  

For further information:
Nova Scotia Association of Community Business Development Corporations
PO Box 337
Truro, NS B2N 5C5
Phone:  1-888-303-2232
Fax: (902) 897-1157
E-mail: bgillis@cbdc.ca
See the document  Students in Business
Web site: http://www.studentsinbusiness.ca

Aboriginal Business Canada
age eligibility: 18 to 35 years old

If you are Aboriginal, contributions are available to help you launch, acquire or expand a business, to source financing, access markets and develop the specific management skills you'll need.  The business opportunity can be in any sector.

For further information:
Please call (902) 426-2018
E-mail: abc.halifax@ic.gc.ca
See the document Aboriginal Business Canada
Visit the Web site: http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/inabc-eac.nsf/en/home

Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF)
age eligibility: 18 to 34 years old

The CYBF is a foundation that offers loans up to $15,000 for qualifying businesses.  The CYBF provides mentoring, funding, and a networking system.  To qualify, a young entrepreneur must have relevant training/experience for the industry they want to enter, agree to work with a mentor, and the business must be a full-time, year-round venture, within the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM), locations outside the HRM are considered at the Loan Approval Board discretion.

For further information:
Centre For Entrepreneurship Education and Development
Halifax Shopping Centre
7001 Mumford Road
Suite 107, Tower 1
P.O. Box 196
Halifax, NS   B3L 2H8
Please call, 1-800-590-8481 or (902) 421-2333
Contact: Shawn Cunningham
See the document  CYBF - Canadian Youth Business Foundation
Visit the Web site:   http://www.cybf.ca/

Ulnooweg Young Natives Entrepreneurship Program - Ulnooweg Development Group Inc.
age eligibility: 18 to 35 years old
This program is sponsored by Ulnooweg Development Group.  The program encourages young natives aged 18-35 to explore entrepreneurship and small business as career options.  A micro-loan fund has been established to first time young business owners/entrepreneurs to establish micro-businesses.  Unsecured loans are available for up to $5,000 for native youth.

For further information:
Please call Todd Hoskin at (902) 893-7379
See the document Ulnooweg Development Group Inc.
Visit the Web site:  http://www.ulnooweg.ca

2. SUPPORT SERVICES

Open For Business

Open for Business helps individuals discover, develop and fine-tune their business skills, or take that great idea and turn it into a successful entrepreneurial adventure.  No appointment is required to access one-on-one entrepreneurial support.  There are four Open For Business locations throughout Nova Scotia.

For the location nearest you:
Please call 1-800-590-8481
See the document Open For Business
Visit the Web site:  http://www.ofbnetwork.com/

Youth Business Online- Canadian Youth Business Foundation

The Canadian Youth Business Foundation offers a bi-monthly newsletters to young entrepreneurs called Youth Business Online, the newsletter offers tips for operating your business, success stories and networking information.

To view the latest edition visit: http://www.cybf.ca/

3. TRAINING PROGRAMS

Business is Jammin'- Black Business Initiative
age eligibility: 13 to 30 years old

This initiative exposes Black Youth age 13 - 30 to training and development that will enable them to start their own business and instill business skills that will be of future benefit.

For further information:
Please call (902) 426-8698 or 1-800-668-1010
Black Business Initiative
2101 Gottingen Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Visit the Web site:  http://www.businessisjammin.ca

Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development (CEED)

The Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development nurtures entrepreneurship in young people, by undertaking, creating, coordinating and acting as a catalyst in the areas of entrepreneurial education, research and program design, professional development, and community entrepreneurship.

For further information on CEED:
Please call: 1-800-590-8481
Halifax Shopping Centre
7001 Mumford Road
Suite 107, Tower 1
P.O. Box 196
Halifax, NS B3L 2H8
Visit the web site: http://www.ceed.info/ceedsite
See the document Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development (CEED)

Atlantic Investment Partnership (AIP) -Young Entrepreneur Development Initiative (YEDI) - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
age eligibility: 15 to 29 years old

The objective of YEDI is to create jobs and wealth in Atlantic Canada by enabling more young entrepreneurs to start and grow businesses.   More specifically, it will provide more young Atlantic Canadians with opportunities to develop the attitudes and business skills needed to identify business opportunities and successfully launch and grow a business.

For further information:
ACOA Nova Scotia at 1-800-565-1228
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation at 1-800-705-3926
See the document Entrepreneurship and Business Skills Development (EBSD)
Visit the Web site: http://www.acoa.ca/e/financial/aip/index.shtml

4. NETWORKING

Young Entrepreneurs Association (YEA)

This organization enables young entrepreneurs (18 - 35 years of age) to get together on a regular basis to talk about what is on their minds, share ideas and generally help each other to achieve even greater success (There is no Nova Scotia Chapter, but there are members in  the province).

For further information:
Please call 1-888-639-3222
E-mail: info@yea.ca
Visit the Web site: http://www.yea.ca

Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs

This is a non-profit organization serving post-secondary students interested in business ownership.  Membership provides valuable networking opportunities to share experiences and seek advice from peers.  Educational institutions in Nova Scotia include:  Dalhousie University, DalTECH, St. Mary's University, University College of Cape Breton, St. F.X. University, Acadia University and the Nova Scotia Community College.  You do not have to own a business to be a member.

For further information:
Please call 1-800-766-8169
E-mail: info@acecanada.ca
Visit the Web site:  http://www.acecanada.ca

Junior Chamber International (JCI)

Junior Chamber International (JCI ) is a worldwide federation of young leaders and entrepreneurs between the ages of 18 and 40. With more than 6,000 chapters located in more than 100 nations and territories, JCI ’s mission is to contribute to the advancement of the global community by providing the opportunity for young people to develop the leadership skills, social responsibility, fellowship and entrepreneurship necessary to create positive change. In Nova Scotia , JCI has chapters in Halifax , Windsor and Cape Breton . To contact the chapter nearest you, call the number below.

For further information:
JCI Halifax
PO Box 51018
Halifax, NS
B3M 4R8
Please call: (902) 443-0533
E-mail: president@hfxjrchamber.com
Visit the web site: www.hfxjchamber.com

5. AWARDS

Young Entrepreneur Awards - Business Development Bank of Canada
age eligibility: 19 to 30 years old

The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) honours the achievements of dynamic young Canadian business people under the age of 30 through the BDC Young Entrepreneur Awards. Outstanding entrepreneurs representing thirteen businesses -- one from each province and territory -- are selected by independent committees comprised of business professionals, entrepreneurs, educators and representatives of the business media and Export Development Canada (EDC).

For further information:
Please call 1-877-232-2269
See the document Young Entrepreneur Awards
Visit the Web site:  http://www.bdc.ca/en/home.htm

6. ADDITIONAL INFO-GUIDES

See the document - Arts and Culture Info-Guide

See the document - Business Start-Up Info-Guide

See the document - Co-operatives Info-Guide

See the document - E-Business Info-Guide

See the document - Employment and Training Info-Guide

See the document - Entrepreneurs with Disabilities Info-Guide

See the document - Exporting Info-Guide

See the document - Financing Info-Guide

See the document - Government Procurement Info-Guide

See the document - Importing Info-Guide

See the document - Innovation Info-Guide

See the document - Library Guide

See the document - Non-Profit Info-Guide

See the document - Taxation Info-Guide

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

DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this document is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. Users concerned about the reliability of the information should consult directly with the source, or seek legal counsel.

Links Policy
Some of the hypertext links lead to non-federal government sites which are not subject to the Official Languages Act and the material is available in one language only.