Businesses Break into Boston Market

Black Nova Scotia manufacturers are renewing historical economic ties to one of the biggest market in the United States --and building an export trade in the process.

A two-part trade mission kicks off Tuesday, Feb. 24, when seven black Nova Scotia business owners travel to Boston for meetings with potential clients.

Over three days, they will explore opportunities to export Nova Scotia products and to develop joint ventures and partnerships. The mission has been organized by the Investment and Trade division of Nova Scotia Economic Development and Tourism, the Black Business Initiative (BBI) and the Office of Nova Scotia in New England.

The participants include a range of manufacturers from Sydney to the Halifax area. Investment and Trade officer Bryan Darrell is accompanying officials of Scorpio Sauces, Sydney; Pro Pins, Halifax; Environmental Disposal Concepts Inc., Dartmouth; Addison Distributors, Halifax; TW Pultrusions, Dartmouth; United Dental Lab, Halifax; and Classic Cheesecakes, Sydney.

"Each business has up to six meetings scheduled with potential clients," said Mr. Darrell. "Some have good leads hammered out already."

Dana Emmerson, president of Environmental Disposal Concepts Inc., hopes to find a manufacturer's agent for his bulb-eater. Mr. Emmerson has patented technology for crushing fluorescent tubes.

"I've already sold the bulb-eater to universities and hospitals here and in other provinces, so the trade mission is perfect timing for me to talk to some of the major players in the U.S." Environmental Disposal Concepts has been operating since 1995 and marketing its product since last September.

The Black Business Initiative provided export-readiness training and will assist in followup after the mission.

"We're excited about the training, development and exposure these businesses are getting," said Rustum Southwell, BBI's executive director. "We look forward to similar types of initiatives in the Boston area in the future."

The BBI will also meet with the Massachusetts Urban League, an organization that promotes business opportunities for visible minorities. BBI will be encouraging Urban League members to investigate business opportunities and partnerships in Nova Scotia, and to explore their northern roots. A return trade mission to Nova Scotia is scheduled for late spring.

The director of the Office of Nova Scotia in New England hopes to make the province's first black trade mission to Boston a "win-win" experience.

Said Gary MacPherson: "We've worked hard to pair our Nova Scotia clients with the right companies here in New England because we want these connections to last."

Both Canada and the United States celebrate Black History/African Heritage Month in February.