ACOA investments support young entrepreneurs across Atlantic Canada    

Backgrounder

Increased opportunities for young people who are interested in developing entrepreneurial skills is critical to building a strong, diverse, inclusive and innovative economy in Atlantic Canada. COVID-19 and related public health and travel restrictions are severely impacting private businesses and the organizations that support them. The Government of Canada continues to work with small business owners, communities and business organizations to help throughout the pandemic as they adapt their strategies and activities to address the COVID-19 realities.

The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), is allocating more than $5.2 million in non-repayable contributions to help Atlantic Canadian organizations that support young entrepreneurs. This will help ensure that Atlantic Canadian youth have the tools and resources needed to play an active role in the recovery, rebuilding and re-energizing of the region’s economy.

Recent youth-focused initiatives supported by ACOA

New Brunswick

3+ Economic Development Corporation
$140,000

Hire a coordinator to develop the talent pipeline in the Greater Moncton region.

University of New Brunswick
$407,700
Support the Summer Institute for Technology Entrepreneurship (SITE) Program.


Newfoundland and Labrador
Memorial University of Newfoundland
$49,950
Implement the 2020 Mel Woodward Startup Cup (student startup competition).

Memorial University of Newfoundland
$135,000
Support the Navigate Centre to champion a culture of innovative entrepreneurship.

Memorial University of Newfoundland
$82,500
Offer additional entrepreneurial work terms to co-op students in response to COVID-19.

Memorial University of Newfoundland
$70,180
Deliver Newfoundland and Labrador MATE ROV Regional Competition.

MITACS
$97,500
Deliver MITACS Accelerate research internship program in Newfoundland and Labrador that supports collaborative projects between businesses and post-secondary institutions.

Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Community Business Development Corporations
$280,684
Deliver the Virtual Youth Ventures Program.

Skills Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Incorporated
$185,325
Promote skilled trades and technologies to youth as a pathway to entrepreneurship.

Nova Scotia

CEED Centre for Entrepreneurship Education & Development 
$359,720
To support the Seed Capital Initiative, which provides access to capital and business skills development to young and first-time entrepreneurs for the start-up and expansion of businesses located in urban Halifax.

Dalhousie University’s Norman Newman Centre for Entrepreneurship
$250,000
Deliver entrepreneurship and innovation programming to students, faculty and community to encourage mobilization and commercialization of research through start-ups, with a focus on deep technology.

Digital Nova Scotia
$75,000
Promote and advance the technology sector in Nova Scotia by working with youth, collaborating with partners and building sector capacity throughout the province.

MITACS
$
100,000
Deliver Accelerate, MITACS’s research internship program that supports collaborative projects between businesses and post-secondary institutions.

Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre
$275,000
Provide operational funding to the Saint Mary’s University Entrepreneurship Centre, which offers entrepreneurship and innovation skills training to youth on campus, and productivity and growth-related business skills training to small and medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in the community.

Venture for Canada Fellowship Institute
$527,961
Recruit, train and support recent graduates to work at innovative SMEs.

Volta                                                                                                                                  $1,500,000
Deliver three years of programming to the startup technology community, which consists of entrepreneurs at various stages of growth, including students and youth. The project supports core operations as well as training, in the form of mentorship, tailored programming and networking events.


Prince Edward Island

Central Development Corporation
$61,750
Support the delivery of the Young Millionaires Program 2020.

Ignition Start Up Zone Inc.
$131,250
Offer specialized mentoring in investment readiness and investment attraction.

Ignition Start Up Zone Inc.                                                                                                      $105,000
Support executive in-residence initiative for startup companies, and engage high-level expertise to help companies scale and compete in the global market.

Ignition Start Up Zone Inc.                                                                                                      $281,750
The Startup Zone will provide 12 months of programming and support services to startup, early-stage, and high-growth potential companies on PEI.

Junior Achievement of P.E.I.
$146,000
Educate youth on workplace readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy

Contacts

Jeremy Ghio
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages
jeremy.ghio@canada.ca 

Cathy Thériault
Media Relations
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
cathy.theriault@canada.ca
506-377-4964

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