Invest Nova Scotia Funds Local Innovation Projects

Invest Nova Scotia is helping to increase production and access to local foods, support diversity in the workforce and improve competitiveness and productivity in the aerospace business.

The latest recipients of funding from the Invest Nova Scotia Fund are:

• Black Business Consulting - $856,000 to develop the Diversity Employment Network, a four-part program to increase diversity in Nova Scotia’s workforce and with corporations and other organizations
• The Cape Breton Food Hub - $500,000 to purchase and renovate a building into a processing facility, retail outlet, commercial kitchen and rental space that supports local, small agri-food businesses and entrepreneurs
• The Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Association - $500,000 to increase productivity and competitiveness for small and medium enterprises in the aerospace sector with the development of a supplier training program, the MACH Atlantic Initiative

“The Invest Nova Scotia Fund plays a vital role in supporting initiatives that advance sectors and regions in Nova Scotia through innovation and collaborative partnerships,” said Graham Eisenhaur, incoming board chair, Invest Nova Scotia. “These projects are a positive example of the strong and sustainable initiatives that Nova Scotians are leading. I look forward to the fund’s continued impact.”

Invest Nova Scotia supports organizations that are collaborating with their community or sector to create a bigger impact and increased growth in infrastructure and skills that strengthen the economy.

Quotes:

“With the Diversity Employment Network in place and operating, many corporations will reach their desired diversity and inclusion outcomes. A catalyst like the network is key to helping members of the African Nova Scotian community obtain quality employment and play an integral part in the economic recovery.”

– Rustum Southwell, managing director, Black Business Consulting

“This facility will be a gamechanger in our whole industry - farmers and food businesses will be able to expand and more people will get to eat Cape Breton grown food year-round.”

– Alicia Lake, manager, Cape Breton Food Hub

“The MACH Atlantic Initiative would never have happened without the support of Invest Nova Scotia and will help our companies innovate and compete in the global marketplace.”

– Carole Lee Reinhardt, president and CEO, Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Association

Quick Facts:

• since 2015, Invest Nova Scotia has invested $16.5 million in 15 projects in agriculture, education, social enterprise and arts and culture sectors
• Invest Nova Scotia was created in 2014 as an independent decision-making board for granting economic incentives

Additional Resources:

For more information about Invest Nova Scotia: https://novascotia.ca/invest-nova-scotia

Black Business Consulting: http://www.bbi.ca/bbc/

Cape Breton Food Hub: https://www.capebretonfoodhub.com/

Atlantic Canada Aerospace and Defence Association: https://ac-ada.ca/