Page 14 - Employment Journey

Self employment: PEI resources to help
start a business on PEI
by Stella Shepard
H
ave you considered turning your skills, abilities,
and passion into self employment?
Over the years, The Employment Journey has profiled
many individuals who followed their passion and
became business owners and operators.
Skills PEI offers assistance through the Self Employ
PEI program. This employment benefit program is
designed to help people start and succeed with owning
and operating their own businesses. Participants receive
financial assistance as well as business counselling and
ongoing support from Skills PEI.
Awareness of resources in the community is so
important. Here is a great look at what PEI has to offer.
For more information about the Self Employ PEI
program, visit www.skillspei.com and click Programs
for Job Seekers.
Rural Action Centres are designed to raise
SkillsPEI offices: toll free: 1-877-491-4766
Charlottetown........ Atlantic Technology Centre
902-368-6290
Summerside........... Access PEI
902-438-4151
O’Leary ................. Future Tech West
902-859-8898
Montague .............. 541 Main Street
902-838-0674
Wellington ............. Access PEI - Outreach Site
902-854-7250
Souris .................... Access PEI – Outreach site
902-687-7000
awareness of existing small and large business
programs and make funds more accessible to
entrepreneurs, and community groups.
Locations:
• Montague
• Central Bedeque
• Alberton
• Souris
• Wellington
902-838-4030
902-887-3400
902-853-3616
902-687-4084
902-854-3439
For more information, call 1-855-297-9898.
Visit www.ruralactioncentres.ca
Canada Business-PEI provides free and
confidential business information to small and mediumsize businesses across PEI, including information
on government services and programs to support
entrepreneurs. They are the first stop for anyone
considering starting or expanding a business on PEI.
RDÉE PEI is the provincial francophone economic
development council.
Services include:
• Community economic development and
cooperative development services
• Entrepreneurial development and support services
• Economic immigration services
For more information, call toll-free: 1-888-576-4444.
Visit www.canadabusiness.ca
RDÉE also manages the Acadian and Francophone
Chamber of Commerce of PEI and hosts the Wellington
Rural Action Centre.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency offers
Head Office, Wellington: 902-854-3439
Satellite office, Charlottetown: 902-370-7333
Visit www.rdeeipe.net
a variety of programs, services and resources to help
entrepreneurs in Atlantic Canada start, expand or
modernize their business. ACOA also offers programs
that support strategic initiatives in response to the
economic development and infrastructure needs of
communities.
For more information, call 1-800-871-2596 or
visit www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Innovation PEI offers a variety of programs and
services to support business development on PEI.
Business development professionals are available to
help determine which programs and services are best
for your business.
❑ Ignition Fund is for entrepreneurs seeking start-up
funding. Applicants compete for capital awards to start
and grow their business venture.
Visit www.innovationpei.com/ignition
❑ Pilot and Discovery Fund supports new and
existing businesses with the initial stages of developing
innovative new products, services or processes in the
strategic sectors.
Visit www.innovationpei.com/pdfund
❑ Development and Commercialization Fund assists
new and existing businesses with final stage product
refinements and commercialization costs in developing
a new product, service or process.
Visit www.innovationpei.com/dcfund
14
February 2015
Futurpreneur Canada provides pre-launch
coaching, start-up financing, mentorship, and resources
for entrepreneurs between the ages 18 and 29.
On PEI, they partner with Innovation PEI, CBDC East,
CBDC Central PEI, and CBDC West Prince Ventures
Ltd. to help deliver programs across the Island. Also,
Futurepreneur can offer a loan if the applicant is up to
39 years old.
For more information, contact:
❑ Charlottetown: Allison Ramsay, Innovation PEI,
902-566-7797 or [email protected]
❑ Summerside: Tania Bernard, CBDC Central PEI,
902-888-3793 or [email protected]
❑ Alberton: Maxine Rennie,
CBDC West Prince Ventures Limited,
902-853-3636 or [email protected]
For entrepreneurs who wish to purchase an existing
business, a list of Island businesses for sale can be
found at www.peibusinessesforsale.com
For a list of recent property sales, visit
www.businessatlantic.ca/en/business/index/pe
What makes a good business deal?
Wayne Carew is the Principal and Senior Advisor
at MRSB Mergers & Acquisitions. He offers the
following advice and suggestions for purchasing a
business:
CONFIDENTIALITY: “Most good business
opportunities are not advertised. Expect to sign a
non-disclosure agreement.”
THE OFFER: “Make sure it is clear and concise, with
a list of what assets of the business are included and
excluded.”
DEAL BREAKERS: “Write it down,” says Wayne.
“What is spoken is often forgotten and what is written
is remembered.”
For more information about achieving successful
business deals, contact Wayne Carew at
902-368-2643 or visit www.mrsbgroup.com
Banking services for small businesses
A number of banks across the Island have a small
business department. The first step is to contact the
lending agency and request an in-person appointment.
Chambers of Commerce across the province
are non-profit local business networks dedicated to
promoting and protecting the interests of the Island
business community they serve.
❑ Greater Charlottetown Area:
www.charlottetownchamber.com
❑ Greater Summerside:
www.summersidechamber.com
❑ South Shore:
www.southshorechamberpei.ca
❑ Kensington & Area:
www.kensingtonchamber.ca
❑ Eastern Prince Edward Island:
www.epeicc.ca/site
❑ Acadian and Francophone Chamber of
Commerce: www.rdeeipe.net/ccaflipe
❑ Montague: Karen Deagle, CBDC East,
902-838-4030 ext. 226 or [email protected]
Community Business Development
Corporation (CBDC) assists small businesses by
❑ Regional office: 902-407-7709
providing financial and technical services to new and
existing entrepreneurs.
Visit www.futurpreneur.ca
PEI Business Women’s Association is a nonprofit organization that empowers and inspires women
to succeed in their business endeavors. They provide
support, education, and opportunities to connect with
other women in business.
For more information, visit www.peibwa.org
2015 Blogs
Business for sale on PEI
www.employmentjour ney.com
Rural-based businesses that meet the criteria may apply
for five main loan programs: the Innovation Loan, The
Social Enterprise Loan, First-time Entrepreneur Loan,
Youth Loan, and the General Commercial Loan.
For more information, visit www.cbdc.ca
or telephone 1-888-303-2232.
(continued on page 15)
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