CREDA File

Welcome to the CREDA File, a monthly column on economic development issues and activities in Cumberland County from the files of the Cumberland Regional Economic Development Association - published monthly in the Citizen newspaper.

April 2009

 

More than 100 Cumberland County young people attending post-secondary institutions across Canada and in the U.S. will be receiving care packages from home this month, just in time for April exams. The Care Kits, compliments of CREDA’s Youth Attraction and Retention Steering Committee and numerous businesses and organizations, are a reminder to students from the county that their community supports their efforts and to encourage them to seek employment options in the Cumberland region.

The Care Kits are designed as an important component of an overall strategy that recognizes youth attraction and retention as essential to our continued growth and economic development. They celebrate youth achievement and encourage the leaders and innovators of tomorrow to choose Cumberland County as a place to live, work, and grow.

According to CREDA Youth Attraction and Retention Coordinator Amanda Mcinnis, 101 Care Kits were sent out on April 1st. Many companies and organizations donated coupons, product samples, or other items bearing their logos or in some cases made financial contributions which helped cover mailing and other costs. Donated items included snacks, personal care items, stationary, and coupons for goods and services. Each kit also contained information about the participating companies and organizations, along with local labour market information and facts about Cumberland County’s great quality of life and affordable cost of living.

 

Another 725 residences and business in Cumberland County now have access to high-speed Internet service. Seaside High-Speed, a partner in the provincial government's Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia (BRNS) initiative, announced on March 26 in Springhill that high-speed Internet access is now available in the following communities: Atkinson, Black River Road, Collingwood Corner, East Hansford, East Mapleton, East Southampton, Farmington, Glenville, Greenville Station, Hansford, Jersey, Lilly, Little Forks, Lower Greenville, Lower Wentworth, Mapleton, Mattatall Lake, Oxford, River Philip, Rodney , Rose, Salt Springs, Salt Springs Station, Six Mile Brook, South Brook, South Victoria, Southampton, Stanley, Streets Ridge, Thomson Station, Valley Road, Victoria, Wentworth Centre, West Hansford, West Wentworth, Westchester Station, Westchester Valley, Westchester, Williamsdale, and Windham Hill.

The new service is comparable in speed and affordability with urban areas of Nova Scotia. Seaside has been developing its broadband network since being awarded a provincial contract in late 2007. Network construction spans nine counties throughout northeastern Nova Scotia, from Cumberland to Victoria. When complete, the network will have the capacity to serve over 38,000 Nova Scotians previously without high-speed.

This broadband service is made available under the provincial government's Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia initiative. When the initiative is completed by the end of the year, the entire province will have high-speed Internet access, making Nova Scotia one of the most connected jurisdictions in North America. This will give Nova Scotian students, businesses, and families the opportunity to connect and compete worldwide.

Funding partners in this project are the Province of Nova Scotia, the Government of Canada, and Seaside High-Speed. Call 1 888 965 5511 if you have questions or to book an installation. For updates on service availability, and other useful information, visit www.seasidehighspeed.com.

 

 

If you have any questions or want further information regarding CREDA call 667-3638. CREDA is Quality System registered to ISO 9001:2000.