Partnership hosts open house
Networking opportunity will include explanation of new programs
The Cape Breton Partnership is holding an open house at its new office on Alexandra Street next week.
The business-led organization, which receives government program funding, moved from its Charlotte Street location in June.
More space was required to suit its growing office staff from just a handful a few years ago to 16 employees based in Sydney. Another five employees work out of office space in Victoria, Richmond and Inverness counties. Most of the jobs are contract positions.
Cape Breton Partnership president and CEO Keith MacDonald said the open house scheduled for Wednesday is an opportunity to meet with the organization’s private-sector investors as well as the general public.
“It’ll be a chance for our investors and economic development organizations to stop up to the new office and get acquainted with the new space,” he said. “We also plan on providing them with some information on various new initiatives that the Partnership has undertaken over the last year and into the future.”
Among the projects is the Cape Breton Local Immigration Partnership that launched last June to assist the integration of newcomers in Cape Breton.
Another immigration-based project, the Connector program, matches business leaders with immigrants and international and local graduates for networking opportunities to assist them with their careers.
The Partnership also administers the operation of the Cape Breton Regional Enterprise Network that works to promote business opportunities in Inverness, Richmond and Victoria counties.
The Town of Port Hawkesbury joined the Eastern Strait Regional Enterprise Network and the Cape Breton Regional Municipality left the Cape Breton Regional Enterprise Network in 2016 and now uses Business Cape Breton as its economic development agency.
Mayor Cecil Clarke justified the withdrawal saying the regional enterprise network process had become “cumbersome.” The municipality then allocated the monies it budgeted for the network to Business Cape Breton.
In September, the Partnership sought an immediate $50,000 from the CBRM and an additional $100,000 from its 2018-19 budget to help improve the prospect of attracting new business to the island.
CBRM council said it would consider the request but a decision has yet to be made.
The number of investors has fluctuated over the years since the Partnership was first created in September 2004, but consistently has from 150 to 190 private-sector businesses covering operating expenses, MacDonald said.
Investors include Emera, Kameron Coal, Membertou First Nation, as well as media outlets such as the Chronicle Herald and the Cape Breton Post.
“Our core funding is provided through predominantly private sector investors who contribute to the organization on an ongoing basis,” he said.
“We use those funds to reach as many government programs as possible to deliver initiatives that help support the private sector in Cape Breton.”
He said all project funding is based on the support of federal, provincial and municipal governments.
The open house takes place on Wednesday from 2-5 p.m. at 285 Alexandra St. in Sydney.