Through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s Business Development Program on June 1, 2018, the Cabot Group has received a $2 million dollar investment from the Government of Canada. The Cabot Group owns the Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs golf courses and are using this investment to provide spa facilities, high-end culinary services and tennis courts at Cabot Cliffs. These additions to the Cabot golf courses will attract more visitors, and create an additional 50 full-time positions along with the 300 people who currently work at Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs.

On June 1, 2018 the Government of Canada announced a $1,000,000 contribution to the We’koqma’q First Nations community to expand their aquaculture operations. This funding will help create job growth and wealth in the industry, which was identified as a strategic priority.

The funding was allocated through the Atlantic Canada Opportunity Agency’s (ACOA) Business Development Program, which supports small to medium sized businesses and not-for-profit organizations in Atlantic Canada. This will allow We’koqma’q to purchase equipment and provide upgrades for their aquaculture operations, along with adding 10 new jobs to the 45 community members they have employed.

Cape Breton, NS – The Cape Breton Partnership will be hosting a group of representatives from the Association of Cities of Vietnam (ACVN) for a technical mission as part of the Partnerships for Municipal Innovation: Local Economic Development (PMI-LED) project.

The Cape Breton Partnership, through the Cape Breton Regional Enterprise Network (CBREN), and the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities, entered into a four-year partnership with the ACVN in 2017 to develop capacity within their organization, foster prosperity, attract investment, and create business opportunities. The first three missions took place in 2017 and 2018 and saw representatives from participating organizations in Nova Scotia take part in strategic planning workshops and other working meetings in Vietnam.

“This technical mission will be an excellent opportunity to introduce our ACVN partners to Cape Breton Island, its industries, its businesses, and its community leaders,” says Carla Arsenault, President & CEO of the Cape Breton Partnership. “As Cape Breton’s private sector led economic development organization, the Partnership believes that strengthening our relationships on a global scale and learning about how other regions are working in the area of economic development is an important piece of furthering the island’s economic prosperity.”

Building on the momentum from the previous missions in Vietnam, this mission in Cape Breton will see delegates attending capacity-building workshops and presentations hosted by various Cape Breton organizations and subject-matter experts. The eight-day tour will also give participants an opportunity to learn about Cape Breton’s unique industries, as well as its diverse needs and opportunities across each municipality. Some of the planned activities will include meeting with officials from Cape Breton University, networking with municipal councillors, personalized tours from local businesses, and a visit to the Membertou Heritage Park.

Over the course of the project, the Cape Breton Partnership and Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities will help the ACVN strengthen its capacity to plan a community-led economic vision, to offer effective economic development projects and services to their communities, and to adopt policies and practices that promote inclusive and sustainable economic development. Specifically, they will be focused on institutional strengthening, training development, strategic planning, capacity building and policy development.

Media Contact:
Carla Arsenault, President & CEO
Cape Breton Partnership
carla@capebretonpartnership.com
902-562-0122

Originally posted and published by Nikki Sullivan of the Cape Breton Post.

MEMBERTOU, N.S. — David Dingwall’s excitement for the future of Cape Breton University (CBU) and the economic impact it has on the island was contagious during his speech at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre on Monday.

“We are not some sort of private club that you go to, to learn how to play tarabish,” the new CBU president and vice-chancellor told a packed room of more than 200 people.

“Our purpose is to make certain that our students and our graduates have those critical thinking skills which all of you who are employers can appreciate and can welcome.”

The speech was given during a luncheon presented by the Cape Breton Partnership and CBU. It was a chance for Dingwall to talk about his first couple of months with the university.

Click here to read the full story.

On May 25, 2018, the Membertou Reserve Band Council announced that they had received a $750,000 investment from the Government of Canada to venture into the boat building industry, with the announcement of this project made by the Honourable Mark Eyking, Member of Parliament for Sydney-Victoria, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). This investment, which is through ACOA’s Business Development Program, will create a minimum of ten new full-time jobs and will support the enhancement of the infrastructure of the band-owned facility in the Sydport Industrial Park. Membertou came upon this opportunity after realizing that the wait for some fishing vessels can be over three years. This new venture will better serve market demands for fishing vessels under 45 feet in length and would benefit Membertou and surrounding communities.

“We are looking forward to the opportunities that will be realized thanks to the support of our federal partners on this project. We will create meaningful employment and work together to build a stronger Cape Breton and Nova Scotia” said Terrance Paul, Chief of Membertou

Membertou has become a benchmark for successful urban indigenous communities across Canada, along with being the third largest employer in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality (CBRM). The project is a joint venture with Canadian Maritime Engineering (CME), which will provide the skills, knowledge and training to produce quality vessels under 45 feet in length. The community of Membertou plans to use this project as a way to build capacity with training programs and incentives for community residents.

“Membertou Council is an integral part of Cape Breton’s community, providing sound business acumen and employment opportunities for hundreds of people. The region benefits greatly from its drive to diversify the economy and create meaningful training and mentorship programs for our youth. The Government of Canada is proud to be a continued supporter of the work being done here” said the Honourable Mark Eyking, Member of Parliament for Sydney-Victoria.

Membertou First Nations is one of the Cape Breton Partnerships Legacy Investors and has worked on many initiatives with the Partnership. We appreciate and encourage all of the hard work and dedication Membertou has done for Cape Breton’s communities and economic development.