A promising start for the Cumberland ‘Connector’

In less than a year, the Cumberland Business Connector, an organisation important to our county’s economic future, is in motion and executing an ambitious but realistic strategic plan.

Connector CEO Jonathan McClelland and its volunteer board, have wisely chosen to keep the plan simple by concentrating on three “pillars” of activity that they feel will deliver early results.

The first of these pillars involves assisting and strengthening the county’s existing businesses, with priority given to business retention and expansion.

Secondly, there will be a focus on working with government to identify government-related barriers to business growth and exploring ways for government to help in stimulating local growth.

And finally, with an emphasis on our youth, the Connector will work with employers, schools and our Nova Scotia Community College to provide customized training to deliver a “job ready workforce.” And, in doing so raise awareness of local employment opportunities available to our youth that can help create some growth in our population.

Detailed activities in each of these three areas are already underway, with objectives identified, and are showing promise of early results.

A recently announced example is the “Cumberland Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge,” sponsored by the Cumberland Business Connector along with the Community Credit Union and CBDC Cumberland. It is aimed at supporting those of our youth who have ambitions to start up their own businesses in our county.

Some $17,000 in total cash awards are to be won, with seven $1,500 winners in the “youth” category - 29 years old or younger; and seven $500 winners in the “junior” category - 17 years old or younger.

And there will be two “top” County Awards of an additional $2,000 and $1,000 in the youth and junior categories respectively.

For those wanting to take up the “challenge” an application form is available at www.cumberlandbusinessconnector.ca , if you select “Connector Updates”.

Workshops offering expert instruction in the preparation of a business plan will be available for all entrants. This real-world educational opportunity alone is worth entering the “challenge” for those keen on sharpening their business skills. Completed business plans will need to be submitted by May 18.

Selected finalists will then get to pitch their business proposals to a panel of judges, with winners announced in June.

This imaginative exercise builds on the success of a similar challenge made some three years ago, sponsored by the predecessor of the Cumberland Business Connector, calling itself Cumberland Live at the time, under the “Pitch-It” banner.

In that case a single prize of $7,500, a combination of cash and in-kind services was to be won, and it was awarded to Sheryl Chambers, whose business proposal involved the setting up of an attractive new eatery in Pugwash, that we have come to know as Sheryl’s Bakery and Café.

Sheryl has some valuable advice for those taking up this new challenge. She advised having as clear a view of the business itself as possible.…its offerings, its customers, and in her case the character and ambience of the establishment, factors so important to its success.

While the cash and in-kind services were welcome, it was also clear that a major benefit of the “Pitch-it” exercise to Sheryl was the discipline of producing her own business plan, which became an invaluable blueprint during the implementation and financing of the project.

Also encouraging to hear was the praise she had for the many local businesses who volunteered their time and resources when the time came to execute her plan.

I’m sure there will be many other such successes for us to report on in future, as the Cumberland “Connector” continues to live up to what its creators had in mind.

Alan Walter is a retired professional engineer living in Oxford. He was born in Wales and

worked in Halifax. He spends much of his time in Oxford, where he operates a small farm. He can be reached at [email protected].