Open for Business Centres Celebrate Opening
Nova Scotia's network of Open for Business centres has expanded in Cape Breton with the opening of two locations in Sydney and Glace Bay.
Open for Business is a walk-in, youth-focused centre dedicated to exposing people to entrepreneurship and assisting 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 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.
"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."
"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 Bernie Boudreau, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister responsible for Nova Scotia, on behalf of George Baker, Secretary of State for Enterprise Cape Breton Corp., and on behalf of Human Resources Minister Jane Stewart. "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 Corp., and provincially by Nova Scotia Economic Development.
Each Open for Business centre 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 St. in North Sydney. The new centres are in the Cape Breton Family YMCA at 399 Charlotte St. in Sydney and the YMCA Enterprise Centre at 106 Reserve St., Glace Bay.
"Open For Business is a great addition to the YMCA of Cape Breton Association," said 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."