News Release

For immediate releases                                                        March 24, 2000

Glace Bay/Sydney, Nova Scotia, March 24, 2000 — Nova Scotia’s network of Open for Business centres has expanded in Cape Breton with the grand opening of two new locations in Sydney and Glace Bay.

Open for Business is a walk-in, youth-focused centre dedicated to exposing people to entrepreneurship and assisting with the “how-to’s” and “next steps” for anyone interested in exploring, starting or expanding a business. By helping potential entrepreneurs to develop skills for starting and running businesses, Open for Business helps people to gain greater control of their professional lives and achieve economic independence.

Open for Business franchises have been started throughout Nova Scotia and the idea is catching on as far away as Sweden. The current provincial network of nine franchises is co-ordinated by the Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development (CEED), which is funded by provincial and federal governments.

“Investment in programs and services that assist our youth to create their own employment is money invested in the future. This concept is an example of the innovative action and thinking required by everyone involved in community economic development,” said the Honourable Bernie Boudreau, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister responsible for Nova Scotia, on behalf of the Honourable George Baker, Secretary of State for Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, and on behalf of the Honourable Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada. “The Government of Canada’s support reflects its commitment to providing the tools that will enable our youth to remain on Cape Breton Island.”

To help CEED grow its Open for Business network, particularly in Cape Breton, government partners have invested $100,000 through the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification. The agreement is managed federally by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, and provincially by Nova Scotia Economic Development.

“Open for Business is providing one of the key things we need to grow our economy — training and support for our budding entrepreneurs,” said Economic Development Minister Gordon Balser. “More entrepreneurs mean more small business which is a major generator of jobs across the province. In Cape Breton, it’s especially good news as we look for new ways to revitalize the island’s economy.”

Every Open for Business is funded and operated by local community agencies. Human Resources Development Canada has provided $513,560 for the three locations in Cape Breton. The first opened in November 1999 at 113 King Street in North Sydney. The new centres are in the Cape Breton Family YMCA at 399 Charlotte Street in Sydney and the YMCA Enterprise Centre at 106 Reserve Street in Glace Bay.

“Open For Business is a great addition to the YMCA of Cape Breton Association,” explained Charlene Giovannetti-King, CEO of the Cape Breton Family YMCA. “Open for Business is one of the vehicles that the YMCA values in fulfilling its mission of an integrated approach to community development.”

For Further Information Contact:

Alice Almond
Human Resources Development Canada
(902) 564-3467

Chris Curtis
Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development
(902) 424-5263

AdPle Poirier
Nova Scotia Economic Development
(902) 424-5836

Marcie Stanley
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
(902) 564-7876