Business Forecast 2009

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Retail & Service

SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA • BUSINESS FORECAST

PAGE 1

‘Limitless’ in an economic recession BY

Amy James

NovaNewsNow.com

Evan Banks opened Limitless Skate and Snow in the Greenwood Mall because of his passion for extreme sports and because he recognized a need.

There was nowhere locally for boarders to purchase the necessary hardware for small breakages. There was also nowhere locally to purchase decks; the actual board upon which the skater or snowboarder stands. Now Evan supplies both. “I’ve worked construction, telemarketing, retail and planted trees. At age 27 I wanted a career, not a job. So why not start a business for myself, where I can build the type of business I want?”

Evan opened doors officially Dec. 5, 2008 and says there hasn’t been a single day with no sales. “If I can succeed now, when things are harder, an upswing in the market can only mean an increase in sales. It is better to start slow than have to adjust downwards.”

While not selling fully assembled skate and snowboards each day, the high level of interest, especially in skateboarding equipment during the winter season, is reassuring. Evan believes he has found his niche market.

INVESTS CAREFULLY IN THE BUSINESS Limitless is the only skate and snowboarding shop between Kingston and Halifax, so competition is non-existent.

Evan hopes to keep it that way. He believes opening his business during a recession is a blessing, providing him the opportunity to establish himself while bigger box businesses are busy holding status quo.

“The economy may have ups and downs, but people always want to have fun and boarding is a sport with no registration fees, no tournaments. You buy the gear and go play.”

For Evan, saving money during the economic downturn means investing carefully in his business. He markets

Evan Banks: “At age 27 I wanted a career, not a job. So why not start a business?”

using stickers, not business cards. After all, how many high school students do you see with a business card index?

But his business does extend to people of all ages. He has grandparents shopping at Limitless, on a quest to find the perfect first deck for their grandchild.

Knowing his product first-hand and understanding the culture is a large part of what Evan considers his success todate.

He uses the grunge look so strongly associated with skate and snowboarding and his own creativity to display retail information.

Duct tape holds the sign over a new shipment of clothing, not expensive designer displays.

Limitless is also committed to supporting Canadian businesses and eco-friendly merchandise. Evan carries only Canadian suppliers and wants to secure

more local suppliers as well. Clothing lines such as Abhaya are fair trade, all organic, recycled cotton. Not to mention that skateboarding is a green form of transportation.

These are the types of commitments in which Evan believes and thinks consumers want from businesses as well.

Evan is convinced he can ride out the financial storm doing what he loves. The only drawback he acknowledges is the long hours, but the opportunity to check out all the new decks and other gear first-hand far outweighs any ‘overtime.’

Limitless is a direct reflection of Evan’s drive and determination, his beliefs about extreme sports and himself.

“Never stop,” he says. “Always pursue the best.

Learn and keep trying.

Potential has no bounds.” For more information call (902) 242-RIDE.

Auto dealers cautious but optimistic BY

Carla Allen

NovaNewsNow.com

Auto dealers across the country are feeling the crunch of a weak economy, but in Yarmouth County cautious management appears to be driving businesses successfully through troubled times.

At Thistle Hyundai, Doug Thistle says they are watching their inventory very closely and reducing judiciously.

“We’re not carrying any excess, or cars that are not good sellers, the ‘maybe stuff’. We’re stocking less, and we’re stocking our sellers: the smaller, more fuel efficient ones, our bread and butter cars like the Accent, the Elantra and the Sonata,” he said.

It helps when certain models receive good press, like the Hyundai Genesis, which won the title of 2009 North American Car of the Year.

“That’s one of our high-end cars that certainly gives us credibility, recognition and respect, but it’s a very lean market for me, that type of car,” Thistle said.

“What we’re finding, purchasers are being a little more cautious and credit from the banks is tougher.”

Despite the perceived bad times for auto dealers, Thistle says his company exceeded a target of 10 for January, selling 14 cars.

“Although we realize the market is smaller, we as a dealer feel with our price range, quality, service and repu-

2009

Southwest Nova Scotia

3600449

Business Forecast

2

9185 Commercial St., New Minas, P.O. Box 430, Kentville, Nova Scotia, B4N 3X4 Tel: 902-681-2121 • Fax: 902-681-0830 2 Second St., Yarmouth P.O. Box 128, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, B5A 4B1 Tel: 902-742-7111 • Fax: 902-742-2311

RETAIL l BUSINESS FORECAST 2009

tation, we will see an increase. That’s bucking a trend.

“However we are very cautious.

There is resistance in the market for the higher end. The banks are terrible.

They are very, very critical with applications. We’re staying positive. We’re rolling up our sleeves and going to work,” Thistle said.

ANNUAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF NOVA SCOTIA’S NEW VEHICLE DEALERS • Total 2007 retail sales of new vehicle dealerships: $2.3 billion • Sales tax generated by new vehicle dealerships (HST 14 per cent): $315 million • Total units sold 49,187: (59 per cent passenger cars) (41 per cent trucks) • Estimated number of new vehicle dealerships: 133 • Average weekly employment in automobile dealerships: 4,628 • Average weekly earnings of automobile dealership employees: $794 • Average annual consumer spending on purchase of automobiles: $2,647 Statistics from the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association

‘NOT WHERE WE SHOULD BE’ Dick Hubbard at Tusket Toyota says the economic situation is definitely affecting their inventory as well and they are also coping with a temporary delay in production.

Surprisingly, sales of larger SUVs and trucks has picked up since gas decreased in price over the past few months.

“It could be the winter weather, too,” he said.

He added that business in general has been very quiet.

“It’s not where it should be, not where we’d like it to be. Everybody is extremely cautious,” he said. He also commented on the banks as being more wary.

Hubbard says they are very optimistic and looking at February as being better. Last year Toyota had its best year in their history in Canada.

At Tusket, Sales and Service assistant general manager Katie Cudmore has noticed the difference in truck purchases.

“Especially when the gas prices went as high as they did for the summer months. That impacted on us by reducing our truck inventories and trying to bring in the more economical vehicles,” she said.

There has been a shift from the F150 half-ton trucks down to Rangers, a smaller truck.

The fishing industry downturn has had a significant impact on sales as well.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Group Publisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fred Fiander Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fred Sgambati Production Manager, Kentville . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alison Ross Production Manager, Yarmouth . . . . . . . . . . . . Nicole Swaine Advertising Sales Manager, Kentville . . . . . . . . . . Ray Savage Advertising Sales Manager, Yarmouth . . . . . . Shelley Collings Sales Representatives Kentville Division Lori Munroe Wayne Foote Alan Knowles Tanya Moore Al Simpson Sheila Donovan Bryan Abernethy Sales Representatives Yarmouth Division Pat Dempsey Brenda Sollows Sharon MacAlpine Ron Surette Kathy Innes Joe MacDonald

Ken Nicholl Megan Surette

Copyright and/or property rights subsist in all advertising and in other materials appearing in this edition of Business Forecast.

Permission to reproduce wholly or in any form whatsoever, particularly by photographic or offset process in a publication, must be obtained in writing from the publisher. The Business Forecast is a supplement to The Kings County Register, The Annapolis County Spectator, The Hants Journal, The Kings County Advertiser, The Digby County Courier, The Yarmouth County Vanguard, The Queens County Advance and The Shelburne County Coast Guard and other Transcontinental newspapers throughout Nova Scotia.

Business not where it should be Continued from previous page

Cudmore says there is more interest in fuel-efficient cars and their business is stocking as many of those as they can.

“We’re very lucky that we have a manufacturer that’s committed to being one of the best for fuel economy,” she said.

“We’re weathering the storm. As of yet, this hasn’t affected the staffing situation, not to say that if things continue, we may have to look at changes. We’ve been preparing for this for awhile. We could see it coming so we made the steps we needed to take to rein things in. The last

resort is to lay our people off.”

DEFINITE IMPACT Jeff Little at Murray GM says the situation is definitely impacting their company.

“Typically, January is a slow month of the year, but overall we have seen a little bit of a slowdown given the lobster fishery being the way it is.

“However on the other side, last year was one of the best years in many. That (period of time) was also affected by the economic slowdown.

“We’re selling more basic trucks – regular cab as opposed to crew cabs,” he said.

- The Yarmouth Vanguard

KENTVILLE

THE PROFESSIONAL CENTRE

OF THE

VALLEY

Doug Thistle says there’s a “lean market” for Hyundai’s luxury model Genesis, the 2009 North American Car of the Year, but sales have been surprisingly good in other areas. Auto dealers in Yarmouth County are playing it cautious with inventories and have found the demand for smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles has risen. Carla Allen PHYSIOTHERAPY OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MASSAGE THERAPY

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BUSINESS FORECAST2009 l RETAIL

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Can best friends (and their business) survive the recession?

BY

Amy James

NovaNewsNow.com

The economic recession has hit hard for business partners and best friends Janet Marsters and Shelley MacInnis.

Just before Christmas they laid off two employees: Janet’s mother and sisterin-law.

“Apparently this is typical for this time of year,” Janet says from talking with others in the used clothing business. “But we didn’t know. Otherwise we would have planned differently.

These are things you learn your first year in business.”

Janet and Shelley’s Used Clothes opened in Aldershot, Kings County Aug. 14, 2008. Business was booming well into November, but with the advent of Christmas sales declined dramatically.

Both expected a drop in sales as people would be purchasing new items for Christmas gifts, but neither expected the difference to be so significant.

They attribute the decrease largely to the economic recession, especially as many of their customers have lower incomes, fixed incomes or are seasonal workers.

To offset the financial downturn, the store lowered prices, offered regular sales and changed business hours, opening seven days a week. While long hours for Janet and Shelley, the store has attracted new customers as well as the regulars, resulting in a steady increase in the New Year. Both expect to meet projections by the spring.

“Community support has been wonderful,” Janet said, adding, “a business like ours has an unfortunate place during an economic downturn. Eventually people will want to stretch their dollar farther, which will mean increased business for us. A second-hand clothes store is the best place to purchase necessities. Clothes for growing children is not a luxury item.”

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RETAIL l BUSINESS FORECAST 2009

Marsters and MacInnis: “A business like ours has an unfortunate place during an economic downturn.”

Janet and Shelley are concerned about the impact of the recession on the community, especially with the closure of chicken producer ACA Co-op’s Kentville subsidiary, Eastern Protein.

“The recession affects us all,” Janet

said. “Even though we know we will have a few rough months, our business will be fine in the end. Not everyone can say that.”

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

TIPS TO WEATHER THE RECESSION Trevor Churchill, Area Manager, Business Development Bank of Canada, offers the following advice to business owners during the current recession:

Janet and Shelley: “We have clearly defined jobs that we enjoy.”

Community support has been wonderful By offering further discounted items and increasing advertising, Shelley and Janet hope to see their business grow, with the long-term goal of securing a larger space and offering additional merchandise.

Aside from the long hours and the financial challenges, both Janet and Shelley say working together and opening a business with your best friend has been a most rewarding

experience.

“It is fun and better to conduct business with someone you know and trust. Yes, it is more stressful when things are not going well because business is personal, too,” Janet said. “But when there is success, you have someone to share it with.” Shelley adds, “for the most part we work really well together. Janet manages the finances and I am responsible for the inventory.

We have clearly defined jobs that we enjoy.”

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continued from previous page

• communicate with lenders, especially if you are facing temporary challenges • look to multiple lenders if that will help your situation and it makes sense • focus on the core strengths of your business and what makes you successful • continue to serve your clients well and look strategically for new business opportunities • make sure you keep a close eye on cash flow • consider consulting with an expert to make your business more profitable or efficient where appropriate • know your customer and supply chain risks.

BUSINESS FORECAST2009 l RETAIL

5

Neptune’s Balance exploring new markets BY

Jeanne Whitehead

NovaNewsNow.com

3570965

Darrell Challoner and Barry ‘Junior’ Munro of Neptune’s Balance were in Scotland in midFebruary spreading the word about the Long Island company’s environmentally friendly products.

And the Scots were listening.

A private equity investor with connections to the UK firm Bell’s Health Care met with the two men. Their initial meeting turned into a seven-hour marathon where they discussed everything from the evolution of

Neptune’s Balance products to the possibility of manufacturing and distribution.

Bell’s Health Care provides drugstores throughout the UK, Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East and Far East.

“Darrell told me if he had a truckload of the Aqua-healing cream, he could have sold it off the back of the truck,” Munro said.

The chemical-free cream is reputed to relieve symptoms of eczema, psoriasis and shingles.

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RETAIL l BUSINESS FORECAST 2009

Munro is the Long Island fisherman whose insight and entrepreneurial inclinations led to the launch of Neptune’s Balance in 2005.

MADE FROM OCEAN PRODUCTS The company’s creams and cleaners are made from ocean products that include scallop shells.

Munro said it was his niece, Shirley Langpohl, who suggested the name at a board meeting. “Neptune was the god of the sea and since the products come from the sea, and since they’re environmentally friendly, the name makes sense.”

The company has a small plant in Freeport and another at Fish Point, and in 2006 purchased the former Jones Bottling plant in Weymouth.

Neptune’s Balance employed 12 when it first began producing, but manufacturing is now in hiatus.

Munro said he anticipates an announcement within a month regarding the launch of a water purification product his company has developed.

Tests are being conducted

at Acadia University in Wolfville and once the product is approved, he expects it will find a market as far away as Australia.

“We have a lot of irons in the fire,” Munro said.

While it seems those irons are finally heating up, Munro expressed frustration at the lack of government support he has received. He said the Scottish deal could result in 20 jobs, and when the water purification product is launched there is the potential to create 100 jobs.

He said his business has been invited to set up shop in the United States, and he has also had overtures from New Brunswick.

“But I’d really like for the jobs to stay here in Digby County,” he said.

- The Digby County Courier

Economic Development 2009

SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA • BUSINESS FORECAST

PAGE 7

N.S. feeling less pain than others in Canada: CFIB BY

John DeCoste

such infrastructure projects off the ground, including permits, ‘red tape’ and a shortage of qualified labour.

“The (federal budget measures) won’t hurt, and will help eventually, but not right away. We should be seeing some results in six months or so. We need to be patient and give it some time.”

Certainly small business would like to see the budget measures work, she says.

“Putting more money in people’s pockets can’t hurt. There’s a consensus among our members that it certainly won’t hurt, but we likely won’t know the answer for 18 months.”

NovaNewsNow.com

You don’t have to look too far these days for signs that Nova Scotia isn’t immune from the effects of the current global recession.

However, according to Leanne Hachey of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB), Nova Scotians “may feel the pain less here than in other parts of the country.”

Hachey, vice-president of CFIB for the Atlantic region based in Halifax, noted in an interview that Nova Scotia has a relatively large private sector in proportion to our total population, and that public sector jobs “are, for the most part, recession-proof.

“Because we have a smaller population, we have more employees per capita working in the public sector,” she said.

As a result, while “we don’t experience the massive ‘booms’ that some of the rest of the country does, we don’t experience massive ‘busts’ either.”

DOESN’T HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL Moreover, given that Atlantic Canada is so closely connected, things like the current prosperity in Newfoundland and Labrador and the ‘energy hub’ around Saint John “are having a positive spinoff here in Nova Scotia.”

In addition, “relative to the rest of the country, we’re not as much of a ‘tradedominated’ economy as places like Ontario. When the U.S. economy goes south, it won’t affect us as much as in other places.

“In a strange way,” she said, “we’re actually benefiting from the misfortune in other parts of the country, though at the same time, the ways we can benefit from a slower economy, or not feel as much of an impact, can also hurt us when the shoe is on the other foot.”

Asked if the government’s stimulus measures will have an impact, or how

MAKE SURE ‘WE’RE SUPPORTING OUR OWN’

CFIB vice-president Leanne Hachey.

“It might be a wish that when governments snap their fingers, everything will be okay, but in reality it takes time.” long it might take, she said, “unfortunately, we don’t have a crystal ball.

“It might be a wish that when governments snap their fingers, everything will be okay, but in reality it takes time.”

As for the government’s desire to pump money into ‘shovel-ready’ infrastructure projects to help ‘jumpstart’ the economy, Hachey says, “the whole idea of ‘shovel-ready’ couldn’t be further from the truth.”

There are a lot of barriers to getting

Hachey urged consumers not to be afraid to spend, albeit in a fiscally prudent manner. “The government is using the tax system as a way to stimulate the economy. There’s no reason consumers can’t do the same.”

In Canada, 70 per cent of all businesses are small independent operations with five employees or less. “We need to do everything we can to make sure we’re ‘supporting our own’,” she said.

“Our future depends on people supporting small business, which is often the lifeblood of our small rural communities.

If the local community isn’t supporting them, their long-term viability is put in question.”

Small business, Hachey said, “is an incredibly stable part of our economy.

“The small business sector will never shed thousands of jobs at once. There just aren’t the jobs to shed and given how hard it is to find good people, they’ll do everything in their power to keep them.”

Overall, she says, “things are a little more difficult than they were two or three years ago, but all in all, small businesses are holding their own.”

- The Kings County Advertiser

Infrastructure spending key to economic stimulus BY

Nancy Kelly

NovaNewsNow.com

Kings CED executive director Erin Beaudin says that in turbulent economic times, spending on community infrastructure projects can be a key to stimulating the economy and creating jobs.

“Definitely one of the ways we can ride out economic slumps is to spend,” said Beaudin, whose focus with the economic development agency is to stoke the economic engine of Kings County.

Beaudin points to a proposed Western Kings County construction project as one that has the potential to spark both short- and long-term spending.

14 Wing Greenwood is currently studying the feasibility of replacing its aging on-base ice arena with a new two-pad arena and curling facility. The base has taken a unique approach to the initiative by inviting the provincial government and the Municipality of Kings to join the Department of National Defense in a partnership to build a new facility outside the gates of the base that would serve the military and civilian communities.

“This is a very positive approach to project development” because “the more partners the better,” Beaudin notes. Calling the Canadian Forces base “a foundational aspect of the area,” Beaudin says, “what is good for the base is good for the surrounding communities and vice-versa.”

Sport tourism events such as hockey tournaments can provide a powerful jolt to the local economy.

VALUABLE FOR TWO REASONS Industry Canada confirms projects such as this are valuable for two important reasons. First, building materials for those projects and the labour to build them tend to come from the local economy. Whether it’s pipe, concrete, bricks or asphalt, suppliers tend to be located within a nearby radius.

Second, projects that are built remain in place to drive future community and economic growth.

State-of-the-art recreation facilities, in particular, have the potential to grow a renewable sports tourism industry. Sport tourism events such as hockey tournaments can provide a powerful jolt to the local economy.

The Canadian Sports Tourism Alliance (CSTA) recognizes sport tourism as the fastest growing economic development initiative in Canada today and estimates that over 200,000 sporting events are held annually in Canada, generating domestic sports travel expenditures of approximately $2.4 billion annually. The Annapolis Valley Sport and Event Tourism Association (AVESTA) was incorporated in the spring of 2007 by a variety of interested municipal, provincial, community and facility stakeholders to promote the Annapolis Valley region as an event destination and to capitalize on the lucrative potential to draw sport tourism dollars.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT l BUSINESS FORECAST 2009

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Multiplier effect could be huge Mike Trinacty of Nova Scotia’s Health Protection and Promotion Department says the potential to attract millions in sport tourism spending is important to keep in mind in hard economic times.

“Not only are recreation

continued from previous page

PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE Kings CED’s Colby Clarke says a large scale recreational facility like the one proposed for Western Kings County would play an important part in delivering the economic benefits of recreation while supporting existing businesses and encouraging new business development. Clarke, who has been working with 14 Wing Greenwood and the Kingston/Greenwood business community to attract a new hotel business to the area, acknowledges a new recreation facility could help make that project a reality.

Beaudin said the economic impact of fuel, food and lodging purchases associated with sports tourism is multiplied as “new money” trickles down into the community. It is estimated that every new dollar coming

facilities a huge part of the social infrastructure of communities, they are huge economic drivers that bring construction jobs, employment opportunities and can result in long-term local business growth.”

- The Kings County Register

Can Your Tax Guy Get Money This Fast?

Kings CED executive director Erin Beaudin.

into the local economy gets passed from hand-to-hand and is spent many times over before it leaves the area.

“The multiplier effect for tourism dollars is two,” she adds, meaning every new dollar creates two in the community.

“Not only are recreation facilities a huge part of the social infrastructure of communities, they are huge economic drivers that bring construction jobs, employment opportunities and can result in long-term local business growth.”

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BUSINESS FORECAST2009 l ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

9

$5-million port expansion plan finds favour BY

Greg Bennett

NovaNewsNow.com

A proposal for a $5-million port expansion at the Shelburne Marine Terminal continues to gather favor with federal, provincial and local officials.

Shelburne Mayor Alan Delaney described a “shovelready” concept that would see a new 195-metre section of wharf constructed along with the expansion of the existing “T” wharf by 100 metres. The project would also involve the widening of the port service road and the addition of floating docks for pleasure craft.

Delaney called it the most important project for the Shelburne area.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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Continued from previous page

He said the town is looking to expand existing capacity at the port to provide for future uses including commercial fishermen, tall ships, cruise ships and container and bulk carriers.

While noting that finding a specific program for funds for the proposal could be a challenge, South Shore-St. Margarets MP Gerald Keddy described the deep-water port as an important asset to the entire southwestern end of the province.

“It won’t happen overnight,” he said, noting that any plan would likely have to be completed in stages.

Southwest Shore Development Authority CEO Frank Anderson was more upbeat about the proposal’s merits and its chances of government approval.

“It’s not guaranteed …but it’s doable,” said Anderson, who noted several potential funding sources within federal and provincial programs for the project.

Anderson suggested the project would take on greater importance if backed by other Shelburne county municipalities.

“Tell us to go get the money,” he said. “After you’ve had discussions with the other councils, we can make the applications.”

Delaney emphasized that the proposal had been around for some time, but he and his council felt it was an important time to seek funding for the expansion.

Thank You The Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency wishes to thank you, our business community, for your continued contribution and steadfast support of our local economy.

To stay informed about business opportunities, workshops and funding programs, we encourage you to register for our weekly newsletter at www.annapolisdigby.com/contact.

We invite you to visit us anytime at www.annapolisdigby.com

- The Coast Guard

BUSINESS FORECAST2009 l ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Y3589094

Not guaranteed, but doable

A proposal has been made to expand Shelburne’s Marine Terminal to allow for increased traffic at the port. File photo

11

Hants RDA brings business to the world BY

Christy Marsters

NovaNewsNow.com

President Abdullah Kirumira of BioMedica Diagnostics Inc. established his business in Windsor a decade ago with intention of producing affordable medical diagnostic devices for the developing world.

It was difficult at first to connect with like-minded companies for partnerships in this rural setting, but the Hants Regional Development Authority (RDA) provided a way.

The Hants RDA started piloting its Business Retention and Expansion Program three years ago on the principle that businesses will generate business and therefore it is important meet the needs and challenges existing businesses in the area face.

The Hants RDA has been very helpful in attracting similar interest companies to this area and in creating networking opportunities for BioMedica, Kirumira noted.

“Now we are starting to get international recognition even though we’re here in Windsor.”

BioMedica now services over 25 different countries on all continents of the world.

“Partnering with other companies creates more opportunity to reach the market and better products through cross-pollination,” Kirumira noted. “Plus, it is cost-effective.”

When a community builds a supportive environment, provides a great place to raise children and is prided on friendly people, it allows 12

President Abdullah Kirumira, of BioMedica Diagnostics Inc., has a mission to create cost-effective diagnostic solutions for the developing world. The Hants RDA has helped Kirumira to become a global competitor; his technology firm is based in Windsor through a Business Retention and Expansion Program.

Photot courtesy of BioMedica Diagnostics Inc.

for a really great starting point to do business, Kirumira added. “Visitors fall in love with the rural atmosphere.”

Ryan MacNeil is the execu-

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT l BUSINESS FORECAST 2009

tive director of the Hants RDA. He says small areas like Brooklyn, Windsor and Hantsport do not stand out as strong sales pitches in other parts of the world

alone, but Nova Scotia does.

“We have bigger impacts (through partnerships).”

The Business Retention and Expansion Program helps to identify ways the RDA can aid businesses with different things such as networking, succession planning, labour force recruiting, environmental business adapting and by assisting access to capital funding, MacNeil said. “And we really try to help out as many companies as we can.”

However, priorities are formed around the most valued and growing sectors of the economy, which carry a lot of jobs or have a real potential to expand and create new jobs, MacNeil noted.

“But we’ll work with anyone.

We’ve learned a lot and we will keep going and meeting businesses all the time because we know problems change.

“We’re working hard and we want to tell the world we’re out here,” MacNeil said. “We start with an initial meeting (through the Business Retention and Expansion Program) and talk about opportunities and challenges to get a good sense of the business. We needed to spend more time with businesses already here.”

Yet this is only one part of what the Hants RDA does.

MacNeil said the organization also works to build partnerships, start new businesses and attract new businesses. “In the end, we always thank the businesses that choose to come to Hants County. We really appreciate them doing business here.”

- The Hants Journal

Kings connecting business dots for growth Sara Keddy

NovaNewsNow.com

The idea of competing on the world stage for business relocations to our area is one thing, but Kings County is also looking closer to home for success.

“It’s really hard to compete with the rest of the world,” says Colby Clarke, “but if the retail sector in our region is a big employer and those businesses can add one or two people to their staff, that obviously adds up to growth, too.”

Clarke is a development officer with the Kings Community Economic Development Agency and it’s his job to visit local businesses and find out what they think about day-to-day challenges and future opportunities. Kings CED was one of the first regional development authorities in the province to pilot these business retention and expansion (BRE) visits and, over 18 months, were in and out of over 200 operations.

“It really connects dots and points people in directions for growth and finding solutions to problems,” he says.

If funding is an issue for cash flow, expansion or export, Clarke says there is a list of referral services he can provide. Privately owned businesses looking down the

road need to consider succession planning, from what the business is worth to who’s going to buy it.

Kings CED offered a workshop recently covering just that.

If finding - and keeping workers is a challenge, local job fairs can be a solution, but so can enrolling in Kings CED’s Employer of Choice program, where everyone in a business gets a say on what they think makes a better workplace.

PROGRAMS FROM THE GRASSROOTS If no specific issues are raised in a BRE visit, Clarke can still take the data and find local trends.

“We can use that to come up with programs from the grassroots - we’re trying to help out with, rather than just guess, what businesses need.”

Businesses who take advantage of a BRE visit can also pick Clarke’s resources: where a chamber of commerce meets and what issues it’s working on. Are there community initiatives it can support? Are there potential local business partnerships it should be investigating?

“It’s hard for me to keep on top of all the opportunities, and impossible for a businessperson,” Clarke says.

BRE is not just for businesses, either. Kings CED has visited 14 Wing Greenwood, health sites and non-profit groups for their input on local opportunities. 14 Wing, for example, cites a need for a local hotel. Kings CED now has an information package a potential developer could

pick up and run with to meet that need.

“Collaboration between all stakeholders in a community is imperative to the success of a region, and I feel the Annapolis Valley has made great strides in this direction.”

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

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13

BRE not just for business, either continued from previous page

Berwick’s leaders see lots of potential for the town.

“We have our own electric utility and lower rates, a new fire hall, the Apple Dome sports complex coming; those are attractions and they all go hand-in-hand with business development,” says Mike Trinacty, town councillor and chairman of the economic development advisory committee.

The committee formed in the fall of 2007 and got down to business in early 2008.

Development officer David Keddy hit the town and surrounding community, tackling three one-on-one business visits in his first week of BRE work.

“Some of these businesses haven’t been contacted by a municipality in a long time,”

BUSINESS BACKERS Kings County businesses have lots to say about success and planning for the future.

In a Kings CED survey after a year of Business Retention and Expansion visits, 448 businesses gave their feedback.

• 89 per cent of respondents were privately owned businesses • 53 per cent said Kings County has a “good” business climate; 12 per cent said it is “excellent” • 56 per cent have difficulty hiring certain skills • the biggest impacts on future growth were identified as access to capital (18 per cent), workforce availability and quality (18 per cent) and lower taxation (16 per cent) • 91 per cent would recommend Kings County as a place to do business

he says. “BRE is about developing relationships. Is it useful? Absolutely.”

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surveys back up what Kings CED’s results have identified as issues – access to capital, workforce availability, local zoning - the effort has made a big difference in the committee’s second-year strategy.

“I was spending 10 per cent of my time on BRE. Now it’s one of my top-six priorities.

We want a cross-section of manufacturing and retail and professional businesses to get an idea of immediate needs.”

Already, the committee, along with the Western Kings Board of Trade, has been able to help businesses address some concerns. Two

customer service training workshops in January were attended by a dozen businesses’ 60-plus employees. A directional sign for a handful of new, small businesses in the developing Berwick Industrial Park will soon be in place.

An e-newsletter goes out to several hundred addresses every week, full of local business news, but also connections to further training, export, funding, education and counseling programs.

“These small businesses are so busy they don’t have time to go looking for programs and funding and job development help,” Keddy says. “BRE is about linkages and opportunities.”

Keddy invites local businesses that want to get involved in the process to get in touch (dkeddy@town.berwick.ns.ca).

“The information you provide really will help us with issues for everyone.”

A master plan has been released that looks at the future and new opportunities for the Port of Yarmouth.

Port of Yarmouth unveils ambitious plan Tina Comeau

NovaNewsNow.com

The Port of Yarmouth has released a master plan that looks at what direction the port could, and should, move toward in future years.

It’s an ambitious plan that tackles many uses and projects and none of it comes cheap. The pricetag exceeds $20 million.

“I don’t see $20 million as being undoable. I see this as very doable,” said Jeff Monroe, a former director of ports and transportation for the city of Portland, Maine. Monroe served as a consultant on the master plan along with the MacDonnell group.

“This isn’t something that you do all at once, but it’s certainly something you can work your way into,” he added. “Don’t let this plan collect dust; make it happen.”

The plan sets out action items to be completed over the next year, five years, 10 years and beyond.

A major recommendation

of the plan is to better position Yarmouth as an international border crossing and an entry and exit point for goods and services.

Making Yarmouth an international gateway into and out of the province would allow the port to tap into funding opportunities it can’t now.

There is also a recommendation to have a United States customs pre-clearance facility in Yarmouth to ease traffic across the border.

Other recommendations in the master plan including major dredging of the harbour, a year-round ferry service that can accommodate truck traffic, a re-orientation and consultation of marine and fishing uses, developing a signature waterfront attraction, investing in a new ferry terminal and other infrastructure projects, and focusing on pocket cruise ship and luxury yacht business.

There is also a call for new public venues on the waterfront.

- The Yarmouth Vanguard

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15

Light at the end of the employment tunnel Job Resource Centre poised, ready to help BY

Nadine Armstrong

NovaNewsNow.com

With unemployment rates on the rise and industries mired in a downturn, times may seem bleak for job seekers.

However, there is one place where business is booming that just might be able to help.

In the five years that career counselor Rob Frost has been with the Job Resource Centre (JRC) in Windsor, he has never been so busy.

He said that between layoffs at Fundy Gypsum and the closure of several local businesses, there are more people looking for work than there are jobs available.

“It’s tough everywhere right now, but up until a few months ago we were doing well compared to other areas.

But we’ve had some pretty heavy layoffs recently and when a lot of people in a small populated area lose their jobs, it makes a difference pretty quick.”

However, Frost adds there is light at the end of the tunnel. The JRC works with Service Canada through the Skills Development and Employment Benefit Fund to find programs that will help individuals retrain and get hired.

“The first thing we do with any client is sit down and look at where they are and where they want to go; what kind of additional training they might need that will give them longterm employment.”

Funding is available for Department of Educationapproved schools and community colleges, and participants can usually find the right fit for them without having to leave the province.

Although Frost said they aren’t privy to the exact numbers, the recent federal budg16

Career counselor Rob Frost.

et has upped the amount of funding available for programs “We can’t say how long it will take for that money to trickle down locally, but we’ve certainly been putting in a lot more applications for retraining.”

Because everyone has different needs, staff at the JRC work with clients on an individual basis. “It’s a case-bycase situation that can range from helping someone keep their EI while in school to travel or relocation costs.”

Frost points out there are opportunities out there, they’re getting harder to find and the JRC knows how to source them out by following labour market trends.

Right now he said there are two sectors currently on the upswing: construction and health care.

“We’ve lost a lot of jobs in the manufacturing field, but the construction trade is starting to take a turn for the better.”

The JRC has referred many clients to the Operating Engineers School in Falmouth, which offers heavy equipment and crane operation certification courses. “There are jobs available and they are good-paying jobs, too,” he adds.

And with the twinning of Highway 101 on the horizon,

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT l BUSINESS FORECAST 2009

graduates may not have to relocate to find employment.

He notes as well that the Continuing Care Assistant program has also been very popular with participants. The Nova Scotia Community College offers the 27-week program onsite at the JRC. “CCA is a guaranteed position if you have the training,” Frost said.

The course cost upwards of $6,600 plus expenses, however, Frost said that investment soon pays off. “The starting salary is somewhere between $14-18 per hour and moves up relatively quickly.”

Frost suspects with the construction of the new Elms Seniors’ facility in Falmouth there will be plenty of CCA positions available locally.

If those don’t fit the bill, Frost added there are other job and training options out there; you just need to know where to look.

“We get a lot of inside infor-

mation about job opportunities and we look for those leads everyday. There are a hundred ways to look for a job and the more hands helping out the better.”

Frost said anytime someone faces unemployment it’s tough, because for that individual it’s also unexpected.

However, if there is a silver lining to be found, they’ll help find it, he said.

“This may be the one chance someone has to discover a career that’s right for them and move into more long-term, sustainable employment.”

Frost encourages anyone looking for a job or training opportunity to drop by the JRC and see what it has to offer. “Just come and see us.

Even if you’re at home looking for a job every day on the Intranet, there’s a whole lot more out there and that’s what we do best.”

- The Hants Journal

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• Provide local labour market information • Explore the possibilities of educational upgrading and skill enhancement • Referral to governmentfunded employment programs • Help research and apply for jobs online • Offer employmentrelated workshops • Provide printing, photocopying and faxing service free for job seekers.

Tourism

2009

SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA • BUSINESS FORECAST

PAGE 17

Air service renews international trade, tourism relationship BY

Eric Bourque

NovaNewsNow.com

Among the passengers aboard Starlink Aviation’s first flight from Portland to Yarmouth was Jill Duson, Portland’s mayor, who, while in town on that February day, paid a visit to the Yarmouth Rotary Club.

Arriving near the conclusion of the club’s regular weekly meeting at the Grand Hotel, Duson said she welcomed the new air connection between Yarmouth, Halifax and Portland, even though, at the time, the Yarmouth-Portland leg of the service was on hold because of American licensing requirements. Mayor Duson was in Yarmouth thanks to a test flight that had been arranged for dignitaries and other officials.

Addressing Yarmouth Rotarians briefly, she cited the importance of the relationship between Canada and the United States and talked about the “partnership and spirit of cooperation” that “has been long and mutually beneficial.”

In an interview afterwards she spoke about the new air service from Portland’s perspective.

“We’re very happy to put the ‘international’ back into the Portland International Jetport,” she said. “Since Canada is our largest export partner we think this will help solidify the relationship. The fact that it’s a connection both to Yarmouth and to Halifax is very important to

Yarmouth Mayor Phil Mooney and Portland Mayor Jill Duson listen to speakers at the Yarmouth airport after a February test flight of Starlink Aviation’s Yarmouth-Portland service. Tina Comeau

us.”

Officials in Portland were very pleased, she said, when they heard their city had been chosen to be part of a new air service connecting Nova Scotia and New England, noting that the potential benefits are not just related to business or trade.

“I think we do have a good bit of people out of the greater Boston region who travel to Canada for vacation and for tourism interests and so having this easy connection into Yarmouth can be important for that market as well,” she said.

FERRY LINK IMPORTANT, TOO The traditional link between Portland and Yarmouth, of course, is by sea rather than air and Duson acknowledged the importance too of the

ferry connection between the two ports: a 35-year link that was disrupted in 2005 with the loss of the Scotia Prince which was restored – at least in part – by Bay Ferries with its high-speed Cat. The Cat is scheduled to begin its 2009 season between Yarmouth, Bar Harbor and Portland May 31.

In January the Nova Scotia government announced $12 million in assistance for the Cat, money officials said was needed to keep the service going.

On the American side, Duson said, “there’s been no talk of a direct subsidy to (the ferry), but there’s certainly ongoing conversation about investment in the infrastructure to support the service.”

A major blow to southwestern Nova Scotia, losing the Scotia Prince was felt south of

the border too, she said.

“There was a substantial market that traveled to Portland from within the northeast region, up from Boston, up from Connecticut, to take the Scotia Prince over to Yarmouth,” she said.

“People enjoyed that trip. I think people very much missed it and they enjoy having the Cat available.”

Meanwhile, as for the new air service, she said she was optimistic about its future.

“I’m very confident this service will survive and succeed and expand over time,” she said. “Portland is a natural link to the rest of the States for folks from this side, folks from this area of Canada. This is just an hour flight, just a hop across the street really.”

- The Yarmouth Vanguard

Viable and sustainable

All parties plan to make new air carrier service a success BY

Michael Gorman

NovaNewsNow.com

Yarmouth’s new air carrier started service Feb. 9 with significant help from the province and area municipalities.

Starlink Aviation, a Quebec-based airline, offers twice daily service from Yarmouth to Halifax and Yarmouth to Portland. With a reservation website in place and someone hired to market the service in all three areas, Starlink is working hard to make the service viable and sustainable.

Landing Starlink in Yarmouth was no small task, in terms of effort or finances.

Richard Hurlburt, MLA for

Yarmouth and minister of Service Nova Scotia, announced at a press conference at the Yarmouth International Airport that the province would commit $2 million to the service for the next five years.

If, in any given month, he said, Starlink does not meet its bottom line, they can draw from that fund to break even. On months in which the company makes a profit, they would be required to pay back whatever they borrow from the fund.

Hurlburt said he’s pleased with the arrangement and the resumption of air service, but he also stressed the need for people to use it. He has said for some time that for

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the service to work, the local business community must be willing to support it.

At this point, Hurlburt said he believes that support is there.

“Everybody I’ve talked to (is) very, very excited about this service coming in,” he said. “We have a company that has a great track record and I believe this service is going to benefit all of the southwest region and Nova Scotia as a whole.”

WAYS TO WORK TOGETHER Asked about possible conflicts between the new air service to Portland and the ferry that travels between here and that port, Hurlburt said officials from Bay Ferries and Starlink are working together to find ways to enhance their respective businesses.

Hurlburt said each service provides something the other cannot and presents ways for the two to work together.

“We’ve really taken a long time developing this (and) I think we’ve got the right mix,” he said.

It’s a risky prospect, bringing an airline to a community that has not been successful in the past at supporting airlines and during a time when most companies are either putting a stop on growth or cutting back.

But Glen Lynch, Starlink’s president and CEO, said everything about the deal has him feeling positive.

Lynch said he was impressed by the area’s commitment to making the service happen, both during negotiations and when he visited.

“We explore markets, literally, all over Quebec and eastern Canada and the

number one reason for being here is the support of the community and the support of the local officials.”

SERVICE TENDS TO FILL A NICHE Lynch said the runs between Yarmouth and Halifax and Yarmouth and Portland are similar to the regional runs they do in Quebec. He said the service would allow people in remote areas such as ours to access larger markets all over North America via the links to Halifax and Portland.

“The larger carriers, the mainline and tier two carriers, aren’t really serving the smaller communities like Yarmouth. We tend to fill that niche. We provide essentially the same service in a commuter-sized airplane.”

Lynch, like Hurlburt, stressed the need for the community to support the service. Although the company has access to the provincial fund, which will be administered by the province’s Department of Economic Development and the local airport commission, no company wants to stay in a situation in which it is losing money.

“Everything, in terms of service longevity, is based on the demands of the community,” Lynch said. “The ultimate decision for whether a service succeeds or fails is in the hands of the community.

The support that we’re feeling to-date, we’ve very optimistic that the service has a future.”

With it unlikely that such an arrangement might ever come along again, officials from all parties are hoping the future is now.

- The Yarmouth Vanguard

Fisheries & Oceans 2009

SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA • BUSINESS FORECAST

PAGE 19

Island area eyed by fish farmers Aquacultural firm aims to employ 25-30 in new fish farms BY

Jeanne Whitehead

NovaNewsNow.com

GROWS BOTH SALMON AND COD The company has eight fish farms in Nova Scotia and plans to establish more to increase production and to ensure the potential for “crop rotation”.

Cooke grows both salmon and cod, with their principal crop being salmon.

Szemerda said it takes

This strange looking vessel in Sandy Cove is used for feeding fish in a St. Mary’s Bay ‘farm’.

John DeMings

about two years for salmon to grow to market size. The ideal, he said, is to have one fish farm as home to young salmon, another for salmon in their second year of growth, and a third that will lie fallow.

The company also owns related businesses that manufacture cages and nets, transports fish, and produces food for the industry.

- The Digby County Courier

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Cooke Aquaculture is eyeing three sites in the Municipality of Digby as potential locations for fish farms.

If established, the farms may employ from 25 to 30 people full-time and fish could be introduced as early as 2010.

Company official Michael Szemerda says the New Brunswick-based Cooke Aquaculture has farms in each of the Atlantic Provinces as well as in Maine.

The sites where Cooke would like to establish new farms are in the Freeport, Long Island area.

The aquacultural company has been studying the area for several years and has consulted with local fishermen.

Cooke already has a fish farm near the Bay Ferries terminal on Shore Road just outside Digby and another on Brier Island.

Lobster fishermen hope for calmer waters ahead BY

Tina Comeau

NovaNewsNow.com

The waters have been rough for lobster fishermen in southwestern Nova Scotia this season.

The federal government and provincial governments in the Maritimes have stepped up to the plate with funding for more marketing and promotion of lobster in the Atlantic region totaling almost a half-million dollars.

But many fishermen are still hoping to see more on the menu before the season ends in May and question how far the announced funding will actually go.

There have been rough waters for the lobster industry in southwestern N.S., but fishermen are hoping for smoother sailing as the season moves into spring. Tina Comeau

Fishermen are still coping with the fallout of the season’s opening prices that

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saw them selling catches for $3.50 a pound or lower.

During the second week of the season hundreds of boats tied up for a couple of days in protest. Many fishermen later loaded up their lobsters and sold them roadside or in parking lots in the Valley, Halifax and Prince Edward Island.

Consumers weren’t complaining as they picked up bargains. But with the lobster industry driving the economy of southwestern Nova Scotia, less money in the pockets of fishermen means less money circulating in the economy.

FISHERMEN FELT CHEATED When the shore price doubled seemingly overnight in early January to $6.50 a pound, many fishermen felt cheated since they had sold the bulk of their year’s catch at the lower price. It isn’t uncommon for the price to go up after the Christmas holidays when inventories have been emptied and the age-old adage of supply and demand kicks in. Plus, with stormy weather, many fishermen hadn’t made as many trips out.

The economy and the consumer’s lack of appetite for what is seen as a luxury item has been blamed for a depressed lobster season.

That and a credit crunch for buyers and processors.

Feeling enough was enough – or more significantly that enough was not being done – a grassroots movement in southwestern Nova Scotia has resulted in the formation of a committee calling itself the Committee for Sustainable and Viable Lobster Communities. During a formation meeting, a lot of time was spent discussing the need for lobster promotion. But there are other concerns, particularly for crewmembers who are struggling financially and will find it difficult to qualify for EI benefits.

Recently, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced it is providing $328,750 for a global promotional effort of Atlantic lobster that will include advertising, media campaigns, retail promotions, chef events, market research and consumer promotion.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Higher profile will create greater markets: Kerr continued from previous page

“Higher profile for our great Atlantic Canadian lobster will create more market opportunities and greater returns for lobster fishermen,” said West Nova MP Greg Kerr.

The governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and P.E.I. will combine to contribute an additional $126,250. Asked whether the amount being kicked in from this province should be higher, Chris d’Entremont, acting finance minister at the time, said the money comes in addition to other things the province is doing, like heading to western Canada in December to do lobster promotion, and taking what he called big hits on loan repayments.

FUNDING’S A START Ashton Spinney, the co-chair of lobster fishing area 34 off southwestern N.S., said if marketing and promotion can create more demand, then fishermen will benefit if it increases the price. He called the funding a start. But not everyone is impressed.

“Lobsters went from $3.25 to $6.50 overnight. This is what our government should be doing,

controlling the market,” said Digby County fisherman Fred Horner. “That market was devastating to all of us.”

Horner said fishermen like himself, his son Justin and others are all just looking to get a fair market amount for their lobster.

“That’s what we’re all hoping for,” he said.

- The Yarmouth Vanguard

Lobsters went from $3.25 to $6.50 overnight.

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Manufacturing

2009

SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA • BUSINESS FORECAST

PAGE 22

Dave Wilson behind a section of pipe used for his new wave-break system. John DeMings

Calming the waves Locally built system designed to protect shoreline, marinas BY

John DeMings

NovaNewsNow.com

Dave Wilson has a pipe dream that is no pipe dream.

The long-time builder of commercial and residential floating docks has patented an innovative wave-break system using plastic pipe that he hopes to market.

The system is designed to provide protection on at least one side for shorelines, marinas and other such structures.

The objective is a system that removes four-fifths of the energy from a wave, effectively knocking a six-foot wave down to a one-foot wave.

Wilson’s company, Bear River Plastic

Welding, took part in February’s Halifax Boat Show where the wave-break got a lot of positive response.

He initially planned to install a 200foot trial version earlier this year in exposed areas of the Annapolis Basin, but realized “we had already solved 80 per cent of the market’s needs—that’s waves up to four feet.”

Now his emphasis is on market development. Progress there depends on getting the first few systems installed and their value recognized.

“It’s coming. We’re not off to the races yet, but maybe by the fourth or fifth (installation), it will have the reputation.”

He says that open ocean testing of the system has already shown a few surpris-

“We had already solved 80 per cent of the market’s needs.” ing things.

“As the wave height increased, the wave break leaned into the wave, changing the angle in relation to the wave, thus making it the first self-adjusting wave break.”

The current system will handle waves up to six feet in height and comes with an inherent safety factor if waves grow larger. The wave-break system submerges in big seas until waves subside.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

World’s navies another market Wilson also found that as the wind and wave met the wave break, they were separated and there was a calm-

ing effect for a considerable distance.

The wave break is built of the same high-density polyethylene pipe used for the

A section of the new wave-break system on a wharf.

Submitted

Conference to examine tidal, wave energy BY

John DeMings

NovaNewsNow.com

Tidal power will be a major focus May 13-14 of an international conference at Cornwallis Park.

The Ocean Renewable Energy Group (OREG) conference is expected to bring 150 to 200 participants, about half from Canada and others from the U.S. and the UK, particularly Scotland, which is among world leaders in tidal energy development.

OREG members come from industry, academia and government and will examine the region’s experience to-date with tidal and instream energy in the Bay of Fundy region, Atlantic Canada and the northeastern U.S. One session in the Annapolis Basin Conference Centre will be open to public, said Terry Thibodeau, economic development officer

The wave-break section floating. Submitted

pontoons in docks built by Wilson’s company. The pipe has become a standard in the aquaculture industry because of its strength and resistance to UV rays.

The physical strength will be important because Wilson has another market in mind for the floating pipe sections—the world’s navies.

Impact strength will be tested by sailing different size ships at varying speeds into the wave break to

measure its ability to stop a possible terrorist attack on naval ships while in port.

A 50-foot by eight-foot wide section using Wilson’s unique design weighs 6,500 pounds, and is welded as one piece regardless of length. Sections can be transported from Wilson’s Cornwallis Park plant and then welded together before being towed into position where they will be moored.

- The Digby County Courier

with the Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency.

Thibodeau, who is credited with attracting the OREG conference, said the conference centre’s location on the water and being “tidal friendly” helped to persuade organizers.

He hopes to have a kiosk set up for local firms that have an interest in wave and tidal energy. There will also be a meet-and-greet Tuesday, May 12.

OREG, which is based in British Columbia, was formed to ensure Canada is a leader in providing ocean energy solutions to a world market.

The organization holds two major conferences each year, one in the west and one in eastern Canada. OREG is a national organization, with over 115 Canadian and international members.

The organization’s website is www.oregs.ca.

- The Digby County Courier

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BUSINESS FORECAST2009 l MANUFACTURING

23

Green Energy

2009

SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA • BUSINESS FORECAST

PAGE 24

The power of manure

Bear River businessman big on biogas for electricity Jeanne Whitehead

NovaNewsNow.com

Ken Griffiths, the owner of EM Atlantic, wants to see a biogas plant in every municipality in Nova Scotia.

“I just love biogas,” he told members of the Municipality of Digby council.

Griffiths says manure and other agricultural and organic wastes such as carcasses and plant matter are not just

rich in nutrients, they are also sources of energy.

Organic matter that is typically discarded as waste can produce a gas that can replace both natural gas and fossil fuel, he said. Besides its use for electricity generation, cleaned biogas can also be used in natural gas-powered vehicles.

He gave an example of a dairy farm in Cobden, Ont., where the owners installed

David Morse

S

E

MLA, Kings South

morse.mla@ns.sympatico.ca

BU

YS BO

Griffiths says Germany is the champion of biogas with more than 3,700 plants and by 2020 expects to produce 17 per cent of its energy needs by biogas.

Most biogas plants are based on agricultural, he said, but the former Sackville Regional Landfill site near Halifax uses biogas to produce electricity that is fed into the provincial grid.

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Municipalities urged to explore biogas potential ated through the sale of excess electricity.”

Griffiths said a Digby County biogas facility in the Weymouth area could use organic waste from the Digby area as well as manure and carcasses from agriculture and mink farming.

Griffiths is a microbiologist whose company markets probiotic products that drastically reduce odour in agricultural, composting, sewage and waste treatment facilities.

Continued from previous page

Griffith believes people in charge of municipal recycling programs throughout the province should be taking a serious look at the potential of biogas.

“While compost facilities typically use tremendous amounts of energy to operate, biogas plants produce energy.

More electricity is created than what is required to operate the facility,” Griffith said, “so a revenue stream is cre-

- The Digby County Courier

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BUSINESS FORECAST2009 l GREEN ENERGY

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Agriculture

2009

SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA • BUSINESS FORECAST

Wine industry on cusp of greatness BY

Wendy Elliott

NovaNewsNow.com

province from 400 to 1,000 acres, an increase in the number of wineries from 10 to 20 and an increase in industry revenue from $7.2 million to $23 million by 2020.

Clarke says the project is already helping to bring these goals one step closer to reality because over 30 potential investors have touched base.

Ask Colby Clarke about the future of the wine industry of Nova Scotia and he’ll say things are good now, “but it’s only going to get better over the next few years.”

The development officer with the Kings Community Economic Development Agency has been pleased by initial investor reaction to the Winery and Vineyard Attraction Project for Nova Scotia.

“We’re getting more inquiries all the PAN-REGIONAL MARKETING time,” he notes. “We’re very pleased INITIATIVE with how it’s going and given the num- The business attraction initiative ber of stakeholders, will see the development everybody is on the same of a pan-regional marketpage.” ing initiative geared at furThe project got underthering winery development way last August and the and grape-growing in Kings comprehensive marketCounty and four other areas in ing package and website Nova Scotia. outlining the opportuniThe areas with a spotlight on ties of investing in the them are: the Annapolis Valley, province’s winery and Bear River Valley, LaHave River vineyard industry were Valley, Malagash Peninsula and released in February, Marble Mountain in Cape 2009 in time for the secBreton. ond annual Ice Wine Kings CED developClarke says one of several Festival. ment officer Colby strengths is the number of partThe package and web- Clarke. ners involved in this project. site includes information They include: the four-year-old such as the step-by-step process for Winery Association of Nova Scotia, starting a winery or vineyard, the geo- the Grape Growers’ Association of graphic areas with the most potential Nova Scotia, and six regional develfor growth, local success stories, opment authorities (Kings, Hants, resources available and industry Annapolis-Digby, Lunenburg-Queens, trends.

Strait-Highlands and Cumberland).

The Nova Scotia wine industry’s Among the funding partners are the long-term growth strategy outlines an federal and provincial governments increase of vineyard acreage in the CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

PAGE 26

Winemaker Bruce Ewert of L’Acadie Winery in Gaspereau with some of his medal-winning wines. Wendy Elliott

WEBLINK www.investinnovascotiawine.ca

‘We’ve got it here: the marriage of wine and food’ ON THE CUSP OF SOMETHING EXCITING

and the six regional development authorities.

With greater investments in Nova Scotia wineries and vineyards, Clarke says his agency expects to see the creation of local jobs, increased export opportunities, increased tourism and the preservation of agricultural land.

As a wine region, Nova Scotia is the third most recognized in Canada. The province’s current wineries have collected 19 awards and there is serious research going on at places like the Kentville Agriculture Centre and AgraPoint.

Clarke says the existing wineries have shown they are committed to a quality product and affable cooperation. The Wines of Nova Scotia symbol identifies quality wines made from 100 per cent locally grown grapes and fruit.

Amy Savoury, a Kentvillebased sommelier, says this province is on the cusp of something very exciting given such growth in the wine industry.

She notes that visitors have an appreciation for the minerality, acidity and intense flavours of Nova Scotia wine. Even better for the tourism industry, Savoury, who teaches in the Nova Scotia Community College system, points out that our distinctive wines pair beautifully with local food, especially seafood.

“It’s a perfect reflection,” she says. “We’ve got it here: the marriage of wine and food.”

While teaching in Ontario recently, Savoury says she was able to broadcast word of the growth in wineries here and new innovative products being developed.

Last year, Toronto Life

Magazine called the Gaspereau Valley the ‘new Eden’ for wine. Winemaker Gina Haverstock at Gaspereau Winery is one reason and Bruce Ewert, once a winemaker in British Columbia, is another.

At his new L’Acadie Winery, which opened last May, he is concentrating on sparkling wine and bold new reds made from organically grown

hybrids.

The Benjamin Bridge Winery is slated to open this year in Gaspereau and so is the Muir Murray Winery, located east of Wolfville.

Everybody’s favourite greengrocer Pete Luckett is even getting into the act. He is experimenting already at his farm near Avonport.

- The Kings County Advertiser

Y3600057

continued from previous page

BUSINESS FORECAST2009 l AGRICULTURE

27

Change, challenge ahead for N.S. agriculture Sara Keddy

Leaf and Eastern Protein plants here in the Valley in the last few years and retail consolidation to just a few major grocery chains. On the As a fifth-generation farmer, Richard Melvin of other hand, there is an opportunity for smaller Pereau says there is a lot to know about today’s operations, such as Somerset’s Meadowbrook Meats, to grow, process and market their own agriculture.

“And every day, I’m still learning about this goods.

“Major retailers have ‘cottoned on’ to this sector,” he says.

Melvin, the president of the Nova Scotia trend, and they do now want to get in and have Federation of Agriculture, spoke to members of a ‘buy local’ place in the market. We have a the Western Kings Board of Trade at their March major opportunity to get in on this.”

Producers and processors are also facing 5 annual meeting in Berwick on challenges and wildly fluctuating costs - mostly upwards, with opportunities in the industry. oil-based fertilizers, transportation Nova Scotia could be described costs for feed, barn heating and land as “the land of milk and honey,” management hikes to contend with.

Melvin said, as far as climate and Melvin said there is Nova Scotian scithe province’s ability to support a ence for energy alternatives, and the diverse agricultural sector goes. province’s water resources and climate “Still, as most of you know, some will be “buffers” in the long run. of our sectors have struggled with World population will hit nine billion significant challenges.” by 2050, a 33 per cent increase from Melvin said, in 1991, 14.5 per cent today, and “many countries are already of the food consumed in the putting tariffs on what were export province was produced here. In crops to keep food for their own peo2006, that’s dropped to just 8.4 per ple.” cent.

Throw in the present world financial “That’s a dramatic decrease, and crisis, which, in agriculture, means a shows you there are more imports.” Richard Melvin, pulling back of investment in futures president of the markets for things like corn - down 50 PAINFUL FOR VARIOUS SECTORS Nova Scotia per cent since fall; and there is an In 100 years, Nova Scotian agricul- Federation of opportunity to invest in local agriculture has changed from half the pop- Agriculture. ture: “things people can see right here. ulation growing for its own needs “The agricultural industry is an important facand a small, local market, to specifying production in commodity areas for export. “New agri- tor in rural Nova Scotia, where there may not be culture”, from about 2000, looks at that global the economic activity there is elsewhere. There market and is now pushing producers back into have been some tough challenges in the past 20 small environmental footprints, local production years, but we will see opportunity in the next five years, and the next 20 years. “Stay tuned and processing.

“Some of these changes have been very and involved in agriculture.” painful for various sectors,” Melvin said, point- The Kings County Register ing to the closures of the Avon Foods, Maple BY

NovaNewsNow.com

28

AGRICULTURE l BUSINESS FORECAST 2009

FACT BOX The Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture formed in 1895, and now represents 90 per cent of the province’s agricultural production through 20 commodity groups, with over 1,800 members.

Farm and food facts: • N.S. agriculture generates $500 million at the farm gate • 10,000 direct, full-time jobs and 4,000 more in processing and supply depend on the industry • $75 million in provincial taxes and $85 million in federal taxes come from agricultural business • Mink fur and wild blueberries are among Nova Scotia’s top exports • 92 per cent of farm-related spending is done in Nova Scotia

Farm supply business experiencing ‘quiet’ cycle BY

Karla Kelly

Winter is a slow time for a local farm supply business like Sissiboo Farm Supplies in Weymouth, a seasonal cycle that coincides with the nearby mink industry.

Sissiboo Farm Supplies office manager Victoria Brooks says January and February are quiet months when there are only four or five employees at the business.

“It’s normal for this time of year,” Brooks said. “Mink ranchers are not building, but planning for the next mink cycle.”

Brooks said mink ranchers are continually testing for Aleutian Disease and getting the herds ready for breeding, planned for early March.

“In mink ranching, a cycle is one year,” she said. “The construction season is from March to December and we normally employ 17 or 18 people during that time.” Sissiboo Farm Supplies and Sissiboo Home Hardware, owned by Randy Sabine, are a division of Sissiboo Investments and, according to Brooks, are parts of the big picture in the mink industry.

Sissiboo Home Hardware sold wire mesh to mink ranchers for years during the construction season, but Sissiboo Farms Supply grew out of a need for prefabricated mink boxes.

Farmers needed a more efficient way to construct mink pens or barns and Randy Sabine offered this service as well, Brooks said.

2007 A PEAK YEAR With a crew of one, the farm supply business began in 2000 in the building that now houses Sissiboo Landing. It later moved to its current location behind the Trading Post in 2005 where a crew of 22 was employed in 2007.

For Sissiboo Farm Supplies, 2007 was a peak year as it was a major supplier for the start-up of a mink industry in Newfoundland.

“Farming products to help your business grow” is Sissiboo Farm Supplies mission statement “and our goal is to help the mink ranchers reach their

Sissiboo Farm Supplies employee Dean Gosson holds up the wire he has cut that will be used to build a mink cage.

Karla Kelly photos

goals,” Brooks said.

All the essentials such as cages, boxes, green wood, wire, pelting equipment, steel roofing, watering systems, trusses, catching mitts and cleaning supplies needed to operate a mink ranch could be purchased or ordered in.

“The demand for these materials from mink ranchers in the Atlantic Provinces continued to be strong,” Brooks said.

“However, Aleutian Disease struck Newfoundland in 2008 and the market stalled in that province.”

Although Sissiboo Farm Supplies has continued to serve customers in other provinces, it’s the local ranchers that rely heavily upon the business for the initial start-up and yearly operation of their ranches.

New Tusket contract farmer Terry Marr said that most of the materials used to build and operate his mink pens have come from Sissiboo Farm Supplies.

needed service in this area for mink ranchers.”

According to local rancher Hazen Prime, 80 per cent of Nova Scotia’s mink is being produced in the southwestern part of the province with a yield of over one million pelts annually, and that number is growing.

Along with supplying construction, handling and cleaning materials for mink, rabbit and equine farmers, Sissiboo Farm Supplies is involved in research and development initiatives as they look for new products.

“Not only have we have been effective in introducing new technologies to improve mink farming,” Brooks said, “Sissiboo Farm Supplies is in the developmental stages of a product to deal with solid waste management.”

A recently installed computerized numerical cutting machine, known as CNC, provides services for a number of businesses requiring the cutting of wood and plastic products.

Brooks said they are one of a number of mid-size employers in the Weymouth and added, “this kind of employment diversity is much better for a small community.”

Although Sissiboo Farm Supplies is a diverse business, the current global economy will impact them through the upcoming mink pelt sales, Brooks said.

“The first North American fur sale was Feb. 17 in Toronto and then in Seattle, Washington March 7,” she said. “The sales in Europe were down 25-30 per cent, so we’ll wait and see.”

INDUSTRY VITAL TO LOCAL ECONOMY “When I first started in 2004, the lumber came from Lewis Sawmill and the trusses came from Joint Truss,” Marr said.

“These two businesses have since shut down.

“Two years ago I expanded and everything except the lumber came from Sissiboo Farm Supplies,” he added.

“The mink industry is vital to our local economy and Sissiboo Farms is a much-

Sissiboo Farm Supplies office manager Victoria Brooks points out on the computer where European fur sales took place this winter.

BUSINESS FORECAST2009 l AGRICULTURE

29

Roadside market idea ‘taking off like crazy’ BY

Kathy Johnson

NovaNewsNow.com

A proposal to start a community market that would promote buying local goods is ‘taking off like crazy,’ says organizer Cindy Embree.

A brainchild of Shelburne County Women’s Fishnet, organizers held public meetings recently to gather input and suggestions on the idea.

“I can see this growing,” Embree said. “There’s a lot of support in the community. We have four suggestions already on possible loca-

tions.”

Gardening plants and houseplants, local produce and seafood and arts and crafts are among the goods and wares that could be sold at a community market, Embree said.

With uncontrolled access on the 103 Highway in three communities as it passes through Shelburne County (Clyde River, Jordan River, Sable River), Embree says that alone offers an excellent retail opportunity.

“I can see us developing a Sable River market,” she said.

“We would love to see markets in every community.”

Before any decisions are made, Embree said organizers would like community input on the idea.

“We want to brainstorm like crazy with a big, open community meeting,” she said.

“We’re reaching out to any organization that wants to help us. We’re inviting everyone to get involved.”

“I can see this growing.”

What scope a community market could cover, possible locations, publicity and promotion, what licenses would be needed and food-handling regulations are among the topics being discussed.

Anyone wanting more information can contact Embree at 656-2793, or Alice Lloyd at 874-1858.

“We’re excited to think the community will get together and meet up at locations to enjoy music, coffee and food while selling local wares,” Embree said.

- The Coast Guard

Southwest Nova Scotia’s tourism industry joins forces for Rendez-vous 2009 Regional Tourism Authority, Destination Southwest Nova Association, will join forces once again with the tourism industry and operators by offering an opportunity to market themselves to international/national buyers.

Rendez-vous Canada (RVC) is Canada’s premier annual international tourism industry marketplace and takes place May 9–13 in Calgary, Alberta.

RENDEZ-VOUS CANADA’S PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES: • To provide an efficient opportunity for

international buyers to meet suppliers of Canadian tourism products, services and information in one place annually for four days of programmed business; • To increase the awareness in international target markets of Canada as a first-class international travel destination; • To increase the range and number of internationally competitive new Can-adian products, services and packages offered for sale; • To provide an opportunity

Constituency Office Honourable Mark Parent Our new office is at 401 Main Street, Kentville, Nova Scotia Canada B4N 1K7 Telephone 902-678-2730 Fax 902-678-4236 markparentmla@ns.aliantzinc.ca 30

BUSINESS FORECAST 2009

3570977

MLA for Kings North

to inform the tourism industry — both international and Canadian — of Canada’s international marketing activities and plans.

Rendez-vous Canada is a contract marketplace. The key to the success of Rendez-vous Canada is the program of pre-scheduled, computerized, 12-minute appointments that brings together buyers, sellers and DMOs over a four-day period.

Approximately 21,000 appointments are pre-scheduled.

DSWNA will create a Southwest Nova Scotia destination lure kit that includes a CD comprised of regional travel info, attractions, events and an opportunity for accommodations to market themselves to buyers as a literature partner, which is: Literature Partner cost to participate $250 (plus taxes) Inclusion of presentation in

CD/DVD distributed to all buyers that DSWNS meets at the conference Distribution of brochure/ literature/rate card during conference and in follow-up direct mail package Exclusive access to buyers’ mailing list and contact information.

The deadline to participate is April 22, 2009. For more information, contact Liz Barry Morine, Director of Marketing and Sales. She can be reached at 902-679-8021 or by e-mail at lmorine@destinationsouthwestnova.com.

Real Estate

2009

SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA • BUSINESS FORECAST

PAGE 31

Valley real estate market holding its own despite tough times elsewhere BY

Kirk Starratt

NovaNewsNow.com

The real estate market might be taking a hit in some major centres across the country and south of the border, but in Atlantic Canada, and particularly the Valley, that isn’t the trend.

Eastern Kings Chamber of Commerce President Gary Morse, a realtor with Royal LePage Atlantic, owner of Morse Construction and member of the Canadian Real Estate Association board of directors, says that on average, what is going on across Canada in the real estate market doesn’t reflect what’s going on here. When looking at Canada as a whole, unit sales are down about 11 per cent over the same time last year, but the local market dropped less than half a percentage point.

If sellers are hesitant because prices are dropping and buyers are hesitating waiting for a better deal, the trend indicates that neither is happening in the local market and prices will probably remain static for the foreseeable future. If anything, prices in the local market took a bit of an upswing from June 2008 to the present.

NOBODY HAS A CRYSTAL BALL From a Nova Scotia perspective, Morse said the statistics he has received from the Canadian Real Estate Association and the Canada Mortgage and Housing

Gary Morse.

Corporation indicate that prices should remain pretty much as they are over the next couple of years.

However, he points out that nobody has a crystal ball.

“The trend line indicates that we won’t see much of a change in pricing,” Morse said. “It’s important to point out we tend to hear the worse stories across the country. You don’t hear the good stories.”

Morse said we don’t tend to see big swings in the market in the Valley like in the bigger centres across the country. As a matter of fact, across the province and across Atlantic Canada, sales have been positive.

“It’s not in Atlantic Canada that we’re being hit by falling prices or falling sales,” he said.

As of the end of 2008, Morse said inventories are up over the previous year, but that comes as a result of having more listings than sales. You often hear of the market being described as a “buyer’s” or a “seller’s” mar-

ket, but there is a balanced market in the Valley without any distinct advantages or disadvantages for buyers or sellers. The region had been in a seller’s market for the past couple of years where people were getting more money for their properties.

Morse said, to some extent, what is happening with the federal economic stimulus package would probably have some impact on the actual results of the real estate market, but we can only look at history and the trends when it comes to forecasting what is to come.

NO ADVANTAGE TO WAIT ON BORROWING The fact that sales are a bit on the slow side in some areas probably has more to do with the attitudes of potential buyers who are hearing more of the negative stories than the positives ones. From a buyer’s perspective, interest rates are as low as they’ve been in decades, if not ever, and there is no advantage to wait to borrow.

Another incentive to buy a home is, as part of the federal economic stimulus package, if the legislation is approved, people will be allowed to withdraw more from RRSPs for the purpose of buying a house than in the past.

You used to be able to withdraw $20,000, but that is likely going to increase to $25,000. Morse said it was the Canadian Real Estate Association that first lobbied

the federal government to put the Home Buyer’s Plan in place and it was the association that lobbied for the proposed increase. If approved, it would be the first increase since the program was established.

Also as part of the proposed federal economic stimulus package, first-time homebuyers could qualify for a personal tax credit of up to $750.

NOT A BAD TIME TO CONSIDER BUILDING, TOO In regard to his construction company, Morse said things have been a little slower than usual and people aren’t talking about building as much. It’s not a bad time to consider building, though, because material prices have stabilized and interest rates are low. It’s not a bad time to consider renovations either, because if proposed federal legislation passes, renovations completed this year will be eligible for up to $1,350 in federal tax relief.

There have been some job losses in the area, but unemployment rates as of the end of January show that the employment situation in the Valley region is still stronger than it was a few years ago.

Because the housing market, construction and resale is such a significant component of the economy, it alone can have a considerable impact on how well the economy fares as a whole.

- The Kings County Advertiser

Forestry

2009

SOUTHWEST NOVA SCOTIA • BUSINESS FORECAST

PAGE 32

Poor economy fells Comeau Lumber BY

Carla Allen

NovaNewsNow.com

Comeau Lumber of Meteghan has become a victim of the weakening business climate. Layoff notices have been issued and the company, which was established in 1906, has closed its doors indefinitely.

The closure affects close to 50 people, said president and general manager Greg Shay.

“We’re just the latest victim in another miserable forest industry downturn,” he said.

Shay took over the business in 1994

GM Greg Shay: “We’re just the latest victim in another miserable forest industry downturn.”

from Victor Comeau.

The company built a solid reputation over the past century, producing quality construction grade lumber for wood framing, custom-built wooden packaging materials for the fishing industry and paper-quality wood chips that were used by the pulp and paper industry in their production process.

It also administered, funded and supported silviculture programs aimed at private woodlot owners to help them with sound management of their private woodlots.

- The Yarmouth Vanguard

Leo Glavine, MLA Kings West 765-4083 Y3598644

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