IGNITE Atlantic sets up shop on East River Road.
East River Road office building transforming into location housing mix of private and public sector businesses
There have been some major changes at what was traditionally known as The News building on East River Road in New Glasgow.
While The News’ parent company SaltWire Network still leases a small portion of the office space as well as a loading bay at the location, the building at 352 East River Rd. was sold and has been transformed into a place that houses both private and public sector businesses and non-profits in what is being celebrated as an “innovation cluster.”
Some of the new tenants of the building include Velsoft, whose CEO Jim Fitt is the building developer on the project. The Pictou County Chamber of Commerce is also leasing a couple office spaces as well as Destination Eastern and Northumberland Shores and Nova Scotia Business Inc. The Y-Reach program is another tenant.
But one of the largest tenants is IGNITE Atlantic, which aims to support entrepreneurs and the innovation community in Atlantic Canada.
IGNITE bills itself as a local innovation hub “where ideas become reality.”
The organization was created to help entrepreneurs, small businesses, and large industries. IGNITE encourages everyone to explore how they can make change possible in their communities. Members of the organization work to engage youth, communities, startups, and industry to find solutions for challenges in the region and foster a local culture of innovation.
Sebastian Green, northern regional manager for IGNITE, said it’s been one year since they started in this region and already have seen tremendous growth.
Prior to moving to the East River Road location, IGNITE operated out of the Nova Scotia Community College campus in Stellarton. In its new space, IGNITE hosts more than a dozen startups, several student entrepreneurs, and has a dedicated area for community use, coworking, and a living lab.
The resident companies get space, resources, and mentorship.
“They get access to a whole host of advisers and coaches and things like that to help them through specific challenges,” Green said.
Resources include things like photography equipment, a drone, power tools and a 3D printer.
Green said he hopes it keeps with some of the mission that was held by the newspaper in the building as a place to celebrate community accomplishments.
“That’s exactly what IGNITE does,” he said. “We want to highlight and share success of new entrepreneurs and existing small business to show community what’s possible in Pictou County.
The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency has provided a $300,000 nonrepayable contribution over two years to help IGNITE Atlantic Labs Inc. establish a business incubator serving northeastern Nova Scotia.
“Investing in the innovation economy will help create good paying jobs by helping local businesses find new ways to solve old problems,” said Central Nova MP Sean Fraser in a release about the new space. “IGNITE’s new innovation hub in our community will help foster a culture of entrepreneurship at home, creating opportunities for people and businesses to thrive right here in Nova Scotia.”
Pictou County Chamber of Commerce executive director Jack Kyte is excited about the possibilities.
“This is truly a modern concept and we want the business community to feel it is their space to come for assistance, to work on ideas or to take part in a variety of events and activities planned for the future,” said Kyte.