Seven of those businesses are in Pictou County.
In 2015, a total of 33 small businesses from Antigonish, Colchester and Pictou counties have received over $1.8 million in loans from Michelin Development and its partners – Bergengren Credit Union, Northern Opportunities For Business Limited (NOBL), and Guysborough CBDC.
These 15 new business loans are supporting a wide range of business and services, including a restaurant, IT services, fitness, residential plumbing and landscaping companies, as well as a nursery school.
John Tully, president of Michelin Development North America says he’s overjoyed at the positive interest and results so far.
“The diversity of the community and the growing interests in new types of customer-focused businesses are certainly reflected in our clients,” said Tully.
The partnership was announced in 2014 as a way to create jobs in the community after the loss of hundreds of positions at the Granton plant.
Community partners Bergengren Credit Union and NOBL say that the program has invigorated interest in small business ownership.
“We have seen that the new source of funding from the program has been generating increased activity from small business owners in our area,” said Dale Bigney with Bergengren Credit Union. ”The partnership between ourselves, NOBL and Michelin Development has been an extremely positive experience for us.”
Businesses in Pictou County that have received funding through the Michelin Development partnership since June include Gary Cameron Fishing in Pictou, Fat Tony's Bar in Pictou, Loch View Meats in Pictou, CNE Car Wash Limited in Blue Acres, Miss Boo Boo's School in New Glasgow, Hutchinson Massage in Thorburn, and Supplement King in New Glasgow.
New and existing small business owners interested in submitting a business proposal to Michelin Development are invited to visit michelindevelopment.ca for more information, or contact John Tully, President, Michelin Development at 902-753-1156 or [email protected]
