News Release

For Immediate Release
April 11, 2005

Assistance Supports New Trade and Export Program
at the Nova Scotia Community College - Marconi Campus

Sydney, NS –– The Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Marconi Campus will continue to expand training opportunities with support from the Government of Canada. Funding for a new trade and export initiative was announced today by Rodger Cuzner, MP for Cape Breton-Canso, on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister for Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) and Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

The new program will match marketing and international business students with export-oriented companies, provide relevant training for students and export-ready companies and assist companies to become new exporters.

“NSCC Marconi Campus has maintained a close association with the local business community through its various programs,” says MP Cuzner. “This initiative will enable local businesses to grow through export development.”

“There are significant opportunities on Cape Breton Island for growth through international trade and exporting,” says David MacLean, Principal for the NSCC Marconi Campus. “This project will educate students and businesses about doing business in the global market place.”

The total cost of the project is $780,439. ECBC will provide a
non-repayable contribution of $479,580 through ACOA’s Business Development Program.

ECBC offers programs in support of economic development initiatives and is responsible for delivering ACOA's programs on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area.

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FOR BROADCAST USE ONLY:

THE NOVA SCOTIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (NSCC) MARCONI CAMPUS WILL SOON BE OFFERING NEW TRADE AND EXPORT TRAINING AS A RESULT OF FUNDING ANNOUNCED TODAY BY RODGER CUZNER, MP FOR CAPE BRETON-CANSO.

THE NEW PROGRAM WILL MATCH MARKETING AND INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS STUDENTS WITH EXPORT-ORIENTED COMPANIES, PROVIDE RELEVANT TRAINING FOR STUDENTS AND EXPORT-READY COMPANIES AND ASSIST COMPANIES TO BECOME NEW EXPORTERS.

THE TOTAL COST OF THE INIITIATIVE IS $780,439 AND ECBC WILL PROVIDE A NON-REPAYABLE CONTRIBUTION OF $479,580.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Valérie Poulin
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister of Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
(613) 941-7241

Office of Rodger Cuzner
MP Cape Breton-Canso
(902) 842-9763

David MacLean
Principal, Nova Scotia Community College - Marconi Campus
Tel: (902) 563-2450

D.A. Landry
Communications, ECBC
(902) 564-3617