News Release

For immediate release
March 22, 2004

Expansion of EDS Port Hawkesbury to Create 300 Jobs

Port Hawkesbury, N.S. – A major expansion of EDS Port Hawkesbury was announced today with the help of the Cape Breton Growth Fund (CBGF) and Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI). The 25,000 square foot addition to the Port Hawkesbury facility will result in the creation of an additional 300 jobs for the area, adding to the approximately 450 employees currently at EDS Port Hawkesbury. Building construction and the training of new staff will start immediately.

“The Province is proud to continue supporting EDS as the company grows and succeeds in Nova Scotia,” said Rodney Mac Donald, Minister of Tourism and Culture, acting on behalf of Economic Development Minister Ernie Fage. “This expansion is another example of Opportunities for Prosperity, our blueprint for economic development, in action.”

“The success of the EDS operations is proof that Cape Breton is one of the best places in Canada, if not North America to do business,” said
Rodger Cuzner, MP for Bras d`Or - Cape Breton. “This investment strengthens the future of the area by providing Cape Bretoners with the experience and skill development needed to be successful in the new economy.”

EDS serves public and private sector clients across North America, delivering services in a variety of sectors, including financial services, manufacturing, government, health care, transportation and energy, to name a few. The company has more than 136,000 employees in 60 countries worldwide. The proposed expansion will accommodate a new contract for outsourced reservation services for a major United States client.

“The quality of work we have witnessed at our Cape Breton operations has been second to none,” said Jim Paris, Director, Canadian Customer Contact Centres for EDS Canada. “We feel confident that our expanded operations will only add to the success. The expansion in Cape Breton makes good business sense.”

The expansion will add another 250 seats to the current 350-seat capacity, with an expectation of an additional 300 employees. The CBGF will make a non-repayable contribution of $2.1 million towards the cost of the project, contingent on the creation and maintenance of 300 jobs.

In addition, EDS has agreed to a five-year payroll rebate with Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) and is eligible to receive a maximum of $2.1 million over that time, provided the company creates and maintains 325 positions by the end of the agreement.


The CBGF is a partnership between the Government of Canada and the Province of Nova Scotia and has a mandate to assist in the transition of the Cape Breton economy.


FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Stephen Heckbert
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Tel: (613) 948-7293

Office of Rodger Cuzner, MP
Bras d’Or –Cape Breton
Tel: (902) 842-9763

Carla Boudreau
EDS Canada
Tel: 563-4600

Crystal Aboud
Cape Breton Growth Fund Corporation
Tel: 902-564-7331

Joe Gillis
NSBI Communications
Tel: 902-424-6124