Women in Business Initiative

Non-profit* business organizations receive funding under the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency's (ACOA) Women in Business Initiative (WBI) to offer women business owners the resources they need to grow their businesses and compete.
 
The women in business counsellors across Atlantic Canada help women business owners to:

• access the right business advice, information and support;
• improve their skills and business network;
• improve their access to financing;
• obtain expert advice; and
• identify ways to enhance their innovation or export capacity.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible to access these services, normally the woman or women must have 51% ownership and operating control of the business. The business must be located in Atlantic Canada.

Eligible Area

Atlantic Canada

Eligible Activities

All industry sectors are eligible.

Summary

ACOA, through the WBI, provides financial support to non-profit business organizations who offer business support to women entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada helping them develop their businesses and increase their competitiveness.

More Information

To locate a woman in business counsellor near you, contact the:

• Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE); 
• New Brunswick Association of Community Business Development Corporations (CBDC); 
• Centre for Women in Business (Mainland Nova Scotia);
• Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation;   
• Prince Edward Island Business Women's Association.

*Note: "non-profit" also known as nonprofit organizations, non profit organizations, not-for-profit organizations, voluntary organizations and volunteer organizations.

New Brunswick Contact(s):
Fundy Region
NB Association of CBDCs
Telephone: 506-636-3780
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/index.php?rid=2&

Northeast Region
NB Association of CBDCs
Telephone: 506-546-2704
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/index.php?rid=2&

Northwest Region
NB Association of CBDCs
Telephone: 506-473-9775
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/index.php?rid=2&

Southeast region
NB Association of CBDCs
Telephone: 506-533-8711
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/index.php?rid=2&

Southwest Region
NB Association of CBDCs
Telephone: 506-452-3918
Web site: http://www.cbdc.ca/index.php?rid=2&

Newfoundland and Labrador Contact(s):
Avalon - Bay Roberts
Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE)
Telephone: 709-785-6408
Toll-free (information): 1-866-786-6408
Web site: http://www.nlowe.org/

Avalon - Whitbourne
Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE)
Telephone: 709-368-6697
Toll-free (information): 1-866-759-3777
Web site: http://www.nlowe.org/

Central Region
Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE)
Telephone: 709-651-3966
Toll-free (information): 1-877-650-3966
Web site: http://www.nlowe.org/

Eastern - Clarenville
Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE)
Telephone: 709-466-5600
Toll-free (information): 1-888-253-4141
Web site: http://www.nlowe.org/

Labrador - Happy Valley-Goose Bay
Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE)
Telephone: 709-896-8494
Toll-free (information): 1-888-896-8494
Web site: http://www.nlowe.org/

Labrador - Port Hope Simpson
Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE)
Telephone: 709-960-0552
Toll-free (information): 1-888-960-0552
Web site: http://www.nlowe.org/

Avalon - St. John's
Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE)
Telephone: 709-834-9299
Toll-free (information): 1-866-834-9299
Web site: http://www.nlowe.org/

St. John's
Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE)
Telephone: 709-754-5555
Toll-free (information): 1-877-754-0555
Web site: http://www.nlowe.org/

Western - Corner Brook
Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs (NLOWE)
Telephone: 709-632-5069
Toll-free (information): 1-866-632-5069
Web site: http://www.nlowe.org/

Nova Scotia Contact(s):
Annapolis Valley - Windsor to Digby
Centre for Women in Business
Telephone: 902-790-2766
Web site: http://www.msvu.ca/cwb/index.asp

Eastern Region - Porters Lake to Canso – Guysborough, Musquodoboit Valley, East Hants and South Colchester County, not including Truro
Centre for Women in Business
Telephone: 902-223-3715
Web site: http://www.msvu.ca/cwb/index.asp

Cape Breton
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
Telephone: 902-564-3600
Toll-free (information): 1-800-705-3926
Web site: http://www.ecbc.ca/e/default.asp

Halifax Regional Municipality
Centre for Women in Business
Telephone: 902-457-6474
Web site: http://www.msvu.ca/cwb/index.asp

Northeastern Nova Scotia - Pictou, Antigonish, Cumberland and Northern Colchester Counties
Centre for Women in Business
Telephone: 902-759-0313
Web site: http://www.msvu.ca/cwb/index.asp

South Shore Region - Tantallon to Shelburne
Centre for Women in Business
Telephone: 902-521-0657
Web site: http://www.msvu.ca/cwb/index.asp

Southwestern Region - Shelburne to Digby
Centre for Women in Business
Telephone: 902-740-5335
Web site: http://www.msvu.ca/cwb/index.asp

Prince Edward Island Contact(s):
Prince Edward Island Business Women's Association
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island 
Telephone: 902-892-6040
Toll-free (information): 1-866-892-6040
Web site: http://www.peibwa.org/

Prince Edward Island Business Women's Association
Summerside, Prince Edward Island 
Telephone: 902-436-0386
Toll-free (information): 1-866-892-6040
Web site: http://www.peibwa.org/

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National Contact(s):
ACOA Head Office
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
3rd Floor
Blue Cross Centre
644 Main Street
P.O. Box 6051
Moncton, New Brunswick  E1C 9J8
Telephone: 506-851-2271
Fax: 506-851-7403
Toll-free (information): 1-800-561-7862
Web site: http://www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/e/