Halifax, Nova Scotia - Nova Scotia's five university business development centres (UBDCs) have been given a vote of confidence in their work of offering support to area entrepreneurs, while introducing and promoting entrepreneurship to university students. "Their goals are our goals," said the Honourable Geoff Regan, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, in acknowledging operational funding support for the centres on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). "By working with UBDCs, ACOA is helping to support a culture of entrepreneurship in regions across mainland Nova Scotia. It's an incredible bonus to have these resources located within universities, where a new generation of entrepreneurs can build knowledge for tomorrow while building communities today." Funding for the UBDC network in Nova Scotia ($2,135,821 total) supports the core activities of the following university business development centres for the 19-month period ending March 31, 2006: the Acadia Centre for Small Business and Entrepreneurship in Wolfville ($468,668); Centre Jodrey at Université Sainte-Anne ($475,956); the Saint Mary's University Business Development Centre in Halifax ($299,824--funding covers 12 months); the Centre for Women in Business at Mount Saint Vincent University ($406,623); and the St. Francis Xavier Enterprise Development Centre in Antigonish ($484,750). "Atlantic Canada's universities are developers of talent, incubators of industry, and storehouses of knowledge. It only makes sense that we should also be partners in progress, and through the university business development centres that's exactly what we can be together with students and area businesses," commented Dr. J. Colin Dodds, President of Saint Mary's University and Chair of the Council of Nova Scotia University Presidents (CONSUP). UBDCs offer support services to small and medium-sized businesses to facilitate business start-ups and expansion. Services include small business counselling, business plan development, and access to business-related training. UBDCs act as bridges between the resources of the university, and the requirements of business, while promoting entrepreneurial values and culture to students across all academic disciplines through a variety of initiatives (e.g. business planning competitions). As well, UBDCs have developed various specializations. For instance, Centre Jodrey specializes in serving the needs of francophone entrepreneurs, and the Centre for Women in Business focuses on female entrepreneurs, while the Acadia Centre for Small Business and Entrepreneurship has a special emphasis on meeting the entrepreneurship training requirements of community economic development workers (i.e. "teaching the teachers"). St. Francis Xavier Enterprise Development Centre has a focus on helping to improve business survival rates during the crucial first five years through workshops and student consulting teams offered as part of its Staying Power Program. St. Mary's University Business Development Centre offers an extensive business consultation service and has been internationally- recognized for its best practices. ACOA funding to Nova Scotia's UBDCs is being provided through the non-repayable element of the Agency's Business Development Program, which supports non-profit community economic development activities. For Broadcast Use Nova Scotia's five University Business Development Centres have received a total of 2.1 million dollars of operational funding support from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Funding was acknowledged by the Honourable Geoff Regan, and covers the period ending March 31, 2006. University Business Development Centres act as bridges between the resources of the university, and the requirements of business. The centres are operated by Acadia, Université Sainte-Anne, Saint Mary's, Mount Saint Vincent, and the St. Francis Xavier universities. -30- Valérie Poulin Director of Communications Office of the Honourable Joseph McGuire Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (613) 941-7241 David Harrigan Media Relations Officer ACOA (Nova Scotia) (902) 426-4238 Eric Crowell Director Saint Mary's University Business Development Centre (902) 429-2992 Gerry Martin Executive Director, Centre for Women in Business Mount Saint Vincent University (902) 457-6271 Allister Surette Vice-Rector, Development and Partnerships Université Sainte-Anne (902) 769-2114 Ms. Tiiu Poder Director St. Francis Xavier Enterprise Development Centre (902) 867-5543 Mr. Chris Pelham Director Acadia Centre for Small Business and Entrepreneurship (902) 542-2201 ext. 1180
