October 29, 1999
(Development and Rural Renewal)

Province-wide Business Service Network launched

The Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador Business Service Network was officially launched today by Brian Tobin, Premier, Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Bill Matthews, MP, Burin - St. George's, representing the Government of Canada. Beaton Tulk, Minister of Development and Rural Renewal, also participated in the announcement.

The Business Service Network (BSN) will enhance access to small business support throughout the province by providing "single-window" access to business information and research, business counselling and business financial assistance in each of the 20 economic zones in the province. The Department of Development and Rural Renewal, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Community Business Development Corporations and various community-based agencies such as regional economic development boards will co-locate, where possible, so that the public can access their services from one location.

Premier Tobin said: "The small business sector is a vitally important part of our economy accounting for over 80 per cent of all new jobs created since the 1980s. To further support the growth of small businesses in all areas of the province, governments are committing, through the Business Service Network, to improve access to small business support services. This is particularly important in rural areas where new business ventures are needed to diversify our economy."

The network comprises a Business Service Centre in St. John's as a hub operating in conjunction with regional access sites in the 20 economic zones. The St. John's centre brings together the Business Resource Centre of the Department of Development and Rural Renewal and the Canada Business Service Centre of the federal government. cThe regional sites bring together diverse partners including chambers of commerce, tourism associations, some provincial and federal government departments, the National Research Council, rural development associations, and the College of the North Atlantic.

As each network site is established, it will provide Internet access, a collection of practical and relevant business reference resources, and staff to assist clients. Each site will also provide toll-free access to the Business Service Centre hub in St. John's where business information officers can assist with client inquiries, and printed material can be ordered for fax or mail delivery. The Business Service Centre hub, located at 90 O'Leary Avenue, has a business library of 10,000 volumes - the largest such business collection in the province.

To assist in the full development of this network, an investment of $500,000 was also announced. The funding is provided through the Canada/Newfoundland Economic Development Component of the Canadian Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring Initiative and will be used to strengthen information and counseling services to small- and medium-size businesses, particularly in rural areas of the province.

Mr. Matthews stated: "Newfoundland and Labrador is now part of a national network of Canada Business Service Centres designed to improve service to small business and start-up entrepreneurs. Through the Business Service Network, people in every economic zone will have quicker access to business solutions."

Minister Tulk said: "The network will help foster the entrepreneurial spirit of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians by improving access to a growing body of information that is essential for the start-up, growth and diversification of new businesses in rural areas. This is more than an electronic network, it is also a knowledge network that brings together the broad and specialized knowledge of staff working in government agencies and community-based organizations around the province."

The Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador Business Service Network is a joint undertaking of the Government of Canada and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador which will be ratified by a Memorandum of Understanding.

Media contact:

Clifford Grinling
Department of Development and Rural Renewal
Tel: (709) 729-7066

Doug Burgess
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Tel: (709) 772-2935

__________________________________

BACKGROUNDER

NATIONAL NETWORK

The Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador Business Service Centre in St. John's is part of a national network of Canada Business Service Centres located in each province and territory. The centres, usually located in the provincial capital, offer small business services in partnership with provincial governments and/or the private sector.

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR NETWORK

The Business Service Network in Newfoundland and Labrador extends the national Business Service Centre concept by locating a centre in every economic zone of the province. These sites constitute the Business Service Network in Newfoundland and Labrador, which are part of the national network of Canada Business Service Centres. Each of these sites will have Internet access and toll-free telephone access to the Business Service Centre hub in St. John's. The network partners will vary by location and will include the Department of Development and Rural Renewal, Community Business Development Corporations, Regional Economic Development Boards, ACOA, and other federal, provincial, and community-based agencies.

SERVING RURAL AREAS

A network of sites in each of the 20 economic zones of Newfoundland and Labrador will be the primary means of meeting the needs of rural entrepreneurs, business people and economic development groups.

Each regional site will be provided with resources which may vary according to location, but will include basic computer equipment for public use to access the Internet and the Canada Business Service Centre web site. In addition, each site will have a selection of frequently used business reference publications.

At these sites the public, through a single "window", will have access to the counselling, business development services, and financial assistance of the partner agencies. In addition, clients will also have access to the collective knowledge of the partner organizations.

The following services will be provided at each site:

SERVICE ON THE WEB: The Business Service Centre Internet Site contains collections of the latest information on federal and provincial government small business services, programs and regulations that can be searched or browsed. The address is //www.cbsc.org. There are also links to all key Internet sites that offer business information.

SERVICE BY TELEPHONE: The Business Service Centre provides toll-free access to business information officers who are ready to help find answers to business questions and problems. The number is 1-800-668-1010 or (709) 772-6022.

SERVICE IN PERSON: The Business Service Centre in St. John's offers a collection of reference material as well as access to external databases. Business clients are welcome to research on their own or to get help from trained business information officers. Each regional site also offers a similar walk-in service, but on a more limited scale.

SERVICE BY FAX: The Business Service Centre responds to business needs by providing a toll-free fax-on-demand service that allows small business to order fax documents using a Touch-ToneTM telephone, 24 hours a day, any day of the year.

INFO-GUIDES: These brief overviews describe services, programs and regulations organized by topic (e.g., exporting). Info-Guides are available from the Business Service Centre, on the Web or through the fax-on-demand service through each of the regional sites.

 

INDUSTRY PARTNERS

The Business Service Centre in St. John's has teamed with a number of private sector organizations to better serve clients throughout the province.

Four province-wide industry partners, representing a diverse range of sectors in our economy, are co-located at the centre:

ALLIANCE OF MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTERS NEWFOUNDLAND

The Alliance of Manufacturers and Exporters Newfoundland is a division of the Alliance of Manufacturers and Exporters Canada. The alliance is a national, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting and advancing the interests of Canadian manufacturers and exporters.

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR ASSOCIATION OF TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES (NATI)

NATI is a business association of technology-based companies in the Newfoundland and Labrador. The organization represents over 70 private sector companies and 30 institutes and agencies.

NEWFOUNDLAND ENVIRONMENTAL INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION (NEIA)

NEIA is a non-profit organization incorporated to promote companies that provide environmental products and services.

QUALITY COUNCIL OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR (QCNL)

QCNL is a non-profit organization dedicated to achieving excellence in all sectors of the Newfoundland economy through the use of quality principles and practices. QCNL is a strategic partner with the National Quality Institute (NQI).

NETWORK SITES

Network sites are being established in the following communities:

1999 10 29                                                     11:55 a.m.