April 28, 2005 Church Point, Nova Scotia Nova Scotia's Acadian and Francophone entrepreneurial communities received a double-measure of good news today at Université Sainte-Anne. Centre Jodrey, Université Sainte- Anne's University Business Development Centre (UBDC), is receiving core funding for the coming year, while a new building is being constructed to house the offices of Centre Jodrey and other community economic development resources. "Centre Jodrey has become a key business development resource in the Southwest Nova Scotia region and in the Acadian and francophone communities," said the Honourable Robert G. Thibault, MP for West Nova and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health, speaking on behalf of the Honourable Joseph McGuire, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). "The offices of Centre Jodrey will now be housed within the brand new Entrepreneurship Centre facility. This facility constitutes a major Government of Canada investment that will pay dividends in regional development for years to come. " The Agency will provide $1,224,211 toward the building of the Entrepreneurship Centre, with the Municipality of the District of Clare contributing $638,574. In addition to housing Centre Jodrey, office space at the Entrepreneurship Centre will be provided to public and private sector organizations to meet with their clients and pursue entrepreneurship development. ACOA funding of $475,956 for the operations at Centre Jodrey will cover the period until March 31, 2006. Centre Jodrey is one of five UBDCs in Nova Scotia. The others are: St. Francis Xavier Enterprise Development Centre in Antigonish; Acadia Centre for Small Business and Entrepreneurship in Wolfville; Saint Mary's University Business Development Centre in Halifax, and the Centre for Women in Business at Mount Saint Vincent University. "There is an unparalleled opportunity here for networking among all of our community economic development partners and the creation of a one-stop shop for area entrepreneurs," said Warden Jean Melanson of the Municipality of the District of Clare. The President of Université Sainte-Anne, Andrè Roberge, added, "Six professors from our faculty of administration will be co-located at the Entrepreneurship Centre to create closer ties with the local business community. In addition, video conferencing facilities will offer distance education and entrepreneurship training to Université Sainte-Anne's network of six campuses around the province, and meeting rooms will be available for public use." FOR BROADCAST USE Today at Université Sainte-Anne Nova Scotia's Acadian and Francophone entrepreneurial communities received a double- measure of good news with the announcement of funding for Centre Jodrey, the university's Business Development Centre, and a new Entrepreneurship Centre to be located on- campus. The Entrepreneurship Centre will house Centre Jodrey and a host of other community economic development resources. West Nova MP Robert G. Thibault announced ACOA support for the two projects totalling $1.7 million dollars.* * Centre Jodrey--$475,956; Entrepreneurship Centre-- $1,224,211 -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 Jean Melanson Warden, Municipality of the District of Clare (902) 768-2031 Allister Surette Vice-Rector of Development and Partnerships Université Sainte-Anne (902) 769-2114
