Second business mentorship program, business training for immigrants launched

07/27/2010

The provincial government is funding two initiatives to help immigrants in greater Moncton.

Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labor Minister Donald Arsenault, who is also responsible for the Population Growth Secretariat, made the announcement today.

밇ntrepreneurial immigrants are valuable assets to our province, and these mentorship programs provide great support for them, said Arseneault. These newcomers to New Brunswick have a great deal to contribute to our business community. 밬ltimately, our goal is to further assist new immigrants to be successful with their investments, and in doing so, take our province closer to self-sufficiency.

The Greater Moncton Immigration Board (GMIB) will deliver the business mentorship program, and Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC) Westmorland Albert will offer three-day business training for immigrants in the Moncton area.

The Population Growth Secretariat will provide more than $74,000 to the GMIB to hire a part-time project co-ordinator and to promote the program to local businesses and immigrant communities. The program matches New Brunswick entrepreneurs with immigrant entrepreneurs who want to start a business or are running a business. 

 밎MIB뭩 Mentorship Program offers newcomers the chance to pair with a local business owner in a similar field, allowing them a better understanding of how business is done in our area, said Yvette Bourque, executive director, GMIB. Both mentors and immigrants are given cross-cultural training to help clear the lines of communication. In addition, monthly workshops on business topics geared for newcomers are planned.

The first mentorship program was launched in Fredericton more than a year ago, helping 19 newcomers. It has proven benefited those being mentored and also the mentors: Brunswick businesspeople have an opportunity to learn about foreign markets and potential business opportunities from new immigrants.

The secretariat will also invest $32,330 to support a project organized by CBDC Westmorland Albert; Doing Business in New Brunswick An Introduction to Self-Employment for Immigrants. This three-day business seminar highlights business and cultural aspects of doing business in the province.

This seminar provides newcomers with a solid foundation on which to build their business and will answer some of the key concerns they face when launching a business in New Brunswick, said Karen Robinson, executive director, CBDC Westmorland Albert.

The seminars may serve as a model for similar programs in other regions and offered in partnership with local multi-cultural associations and economic development agencies.

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