January 2023 Newsletter

IN THIS NEWSLETTER

UPCOMING EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES

Join Raoul Bhaneja for this free workshop on how to become a creative entrepreneur and how to become your own small business. Ultimately this conversational workshop will focus on self promotion, where you’ll go wrong, and how to sell yourself.

Coffee and refreshments will be provided.

Seating is limited so please RSVP by reserving your seat.

This event is a collaboration between Grenfell Campus, Memorial University, and Rotary Arts Centre. It is presented with support through Navigate Entrepreneurship Centre and SiteLines, a partnership between Research and Graduate Studies at OCADU and the Canada Council for the Arts supporting BIPOC artists.

It makes no difference if you’re a one-person kitchen table operation or a business with many staff, Digital Marketing helps your business show up when people are looking for what you offer.

And the best part is that EVERYONE, no matter how big or small, can use DIGITAL MARKETING to promote their goods and services. The key to success is knowing how to build a strong Digital Foundation. You just need to start.

This workshop will introduce entrepreneurs to the basics of digital marketing: what is it, how it works, how it can help your business!

We’ll explore topics like:

• What is DIGITAL MARKETING
• What is a DIGITAL FOOTPRINT and how do I find it
• What is GOOGLE BUSINESS PROFILE
• I have NO BUDGET – what can I do
• SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION – what is that and how do I do it
• SOCIAL MEDIA focus – which platform is best
• Your BRAND
• Is this working? METRICS & MEASUREMENT

Guide to the Good is an award-winning marketing platform. We partner with Google to promote local, social and green choices to help local companies thrive. We get your company out there so that your future customers will find you.

Let’s Get Digital is a community program created by Guide to the Good and led live by Kim Todd, founder and Digital Director.

Kim is a graduate of Memorial’s Digital and Social Media Program, Accredited Business Communicator (IABC), Accredited Communications Training Facilitator with McLuhan Davies Communications, and Dip. Applied Ethics, Phil, MUN.

Guide to the Good is the social enterprise of thegreenrock ~ Live Sustainably NL Inc. Thriving local companies build sustainable communities, so we promote local, social and green choices here and everywhere, and help local companies flourish through smart marketing supports.

Join this semester’s ideathon and create a sustainable solution for ocean waste and beach plastics. Also, get paid to learn, create, and have an impact! This ideathon is a great chance to work in a team to solve a unique problem and find a sustainable and efficient way to help address the global problem of water pollution and ocean waste.

Event Details
Why? Find an impactful solution, learn and practice innovation skills, and get paid $325 upon your successful completion of the ideathon.
When? February 3 – February 5.
Where? Hybrid. The Centre for Research and Innovation (Corner Brook) and the Memorial Centre for Entrepreneurship (St. John’s) will be available on Saturday for teams wishing to work in-person.
Who? This ideathon is open to all MUN and Grenfell students. However, spaces are limited so register asap.
Deadline to register: February 1st.
Registration link: https://mun.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_50W8aODTzNtoCCW

Agenda
Day 1: Ideathon launch
The ideathon topic will be presented in more detail and there will be a networking segment where you can meet other participants and form a team.
Day 2: Meet and ideate
Saturday will be reserved mainly for each team to meet and work on their ideas. There will be a session on pitching and mentors will be available to meet with each team and answer any questions about the topic in general or your idea specifically.
Day 3: Pitch day
Teams will have the morning/early afternoon to work on finalizing their pitch that they will be presenting later that day.

NAVIGATE NEWS

Funding and project partners gathered Jan. 5 to officially open Corner Brook’s Centre for Research and Innovation (CRI).
The centre, a partnership of Grenfell Campus, Memorial University, College of the North Atlantic and Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd., is housed in the former human resources building of the pulp and paper mill. The centre supports research and development, business diversification and a stronger culture of innovation and entrepreneurship throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

“Grenfell Campus holds a special place within Memorial University, and the Centre for Research and Innovation will hold a special place on the west coast,” said Dr. Vianne Timmons, president and vice-chancellor, Memorial University. “This project is a clear demonstration of Memorial’s role as a socio-economic catalyst in the western region. The centre’s foci – innovation, creativity, research and training – will continue to strengthen collaboration between industry, post-secondary institutions, government and community partners for the benefit of this province and beyond.”

Funding organizations include: the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), Government of Canada, Provincial Government Departments (Immigration, Population Growth and Skills; Industry, Energy and Technology), along with the City of Corner Brook and Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd. (CBPPL). The $8.9-million investment made it possible for Grenfell Campus, Memorial University, College of the North Atlantic (CNA), and CBPPL to renovate the pulp and paper mill’s former Human Resources Building.

The grand opening event was attended by the Honourable Gudie Hutchings, Minister of Rural Economic Development, Member of Parliament for Long Range Mountains, Government of Canada; the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister, Immigration, Population Growth and Skills and MHA, Corner Brook; the Honourable Derrick Bragg, Minister, Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture; Dr. Scott Reid, Parliamentary Secretary, Education, and MHA, St. George’s Humber; Mayor Jim Parsons, City of Corner Brook; Michel Girard, VP and General Manager, CBPPL; Dr. Vianne Timmons, President and Vice-Chancellor, Memorial University; and Liz Kidd, President and CEO, CNA.

“The opening of the Centre for Research and Innovation brings a bright future for inspiring entrepreneurs in Corner Brook and the entire province,” said Minister Hutchings. “This facility holds limitless opportunities for students, researchers, and industry professionals. The new space, with its equipment and technologies, will spur product development and market exploration for the forestry, mining, and agriculture industries that support the growth and sustainability of Atlantic Canada’s economy.”

A total of $8.9 million was invested to support the Centre for Research and Innovation. This includes $5.3 million in funding through the Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) between the Provincial Government and the Government of Canada to support an employer-sponsored training program to be developed and delivered by CNA. A further $2.9 million was invested to enable Memorial University to complete the redevelopment of the CBPPL Human Resources building. This includes $1,645,059 million from ACOA, $1 million from the Emera Entrepreneurship/Innovation Fund, $679,682 from the Provincial Government’s Regional Development Fund, and $50,000 from the City of Corner Brook. In addition, ACOA and the Provincial Government contributed more than $700,000 to research and development projects –$400,000 from ACOA and $306,000 from the Provincial Government’s Research and Development Fund. Agriculture and Agri-foods Canada also provided $288,475 towards this project from the Canada’s Clean Technology Program.

“Great change often begins with a single idea propelled by vision, collaboration and action. Corner Brook’s Centre for Research and Innovation stands today because of the idea that established infrastructure can be re-purposed for future success,” said Minister Byrne. “As Minister responsible for skills development and population growth, I see this new facility and its people, paired with the grand desire to build upon our achievements to date, as a key component in the forward path for future population growth, and greater economic and cultural diversity for Newfoundland and Labrador.”

The facility, which is maintained by CBPPL, supports local and regional economic growth through innovation, research and training, and serves as a hub for regional innovation. There are three related components to the project:
1) the physical innovation centre itself in downtown Corner Brook, which includes the Navigate Business Incubation and Co-working Space and industrial and digital makerspaces; 2) research on the use of waste by-products of the mill and new product development; and,
3) development of training opportunities by CNA.

The CRI will provide a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation, training and succession planning of skilled workers, creation of innovative and environmentally conscious industry opportunities and products, as well as local and regional agriculture activities through which Grenfell’s graduate students gain valuable research experience.

“We are proud to be part of this exciting project which will help current and future generations of workers succeed in the forest industry of tomorrow,” said Michel Girard, vice-president and general manager, Kruger Publication Papers, Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited. “The cutting-edge training and world-class research that will be conducted at the Centre for Research and Innovation will certainly have a positive impact on our community and our province. We’re also excited at the prospect of finding new uses for the mill’s waste by-products and potentially developing new products as part of the centre’s mission, which aligns perfectly with Kruger’s and Corner Brook Pulp and Paper’s ongoing efforts to reduce our environmental footprint. We wish to thank the Government of Canada, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the City of Corner Brook, Memorial University, and College of the North Atlantic for taking part in this inspiring initiative.”

Regional and community partners are critical to this initiative, which aims to provide the foundation to spark larger, longer-term transformational change in the western Newfoundland region. Key stakeholder groups, such as Western Newfoundland Entrepreneurs, the DIY Society, the City of Corner Brook and Qalipu First Nation, were consulted and will play a role in future programming. Additional research partnerships with businesses in the western region have also been confirmed, including West Valley Farms, Anaconda Mining, Hammond Farm, and New World Dairy.

Ultimately, key outcomes for the Centre of Research and Innovation will include infrastructure and capacity building, research and development, entrepreneurship and innovation, education and skills training and growth in the agricultural and forest sectors. Benefits are expected for all partners involved, including CBPPL, the two public post-secondary institutions, the City of Corner Brook and community sectors locally and throughout the province. This centre acts as a catalyst for continued communication and collaboration among all stakeholders in pursuit of sustainable growth and innovative practices.

PARTNER EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES

The Insight Business Consulting Program matches start-up companies with full-time MBA students to assist with projects. The program will provide companies with creative solutions, new insights, knowledge, and resources. Students will gain real-world experience and industry connections.

This program is free for start-up companies, and MBA students will receive a $4,500/semester fellowship. Applications for the winter semester are due Monday, January 16th, 2023 at 3 p.m. Read this article, to hear how your peers have benefited from this program. You can also learn more about our exciting new program partner, Rolene Pryor, senior consultant with Barrington Consulting, here.

For more information and to apply, please check out the Research Innovation Office’s website or email rio@mun.ca.

The Session will be hosted by Metro Business Opportunities and Futurpreneur Canada on how our Programs support entrepreneurs.

In the Session, Bernadette Coady (MBO) and I will go through the loan programs available through Futurpreneur Canada and MBO, along with discussing the Resources we have available and some general information/advice on launching a business.

No need to register for the event, simply click on the Zoom link at 11am on Jan 13^th:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82302669945?pwd=bFpSaFlCeVV5a28raHF0c3c4L2dzZz09
Meeting ID: 823 0266 9945
Passcode: 130984

Be sure to add this event to your calendar!

Date & Time:
Thursday, January 26, 2023, 9AM – 4PM | Glynmill Inn, Cobb Lane, Corner Brook

Symposium Themes:

• Finding Opportunities: Growing your business and regional opportunities.
• Workplace Evolution: Examining strengths and challenges in a new age of workplace culture.
• Monetizing Your Story: Turning your experiences into a profitable business.
• Show Me the Money: Exploring regional funding opportunities.

Agenda
8:30 AM                Coffee / Registration
12:00 PM              Lunch
4:00 PM                Closing

Registration: NLOWE Member $25, Non-Member $50Lunch & refreshments included. 

Aspiring entrepreneurs: Transform your idea into a thriving business

An impending economic slowdown may appear daunting for young, aspiring entrepreneurs. With the right approach one can create space for innovative ideas and find opportunities to fill gaps in the market with niche products and services.

Are you an entrepreneur looking to transform your idea into a thriving business or grow your newly launched small business?

Register today for the free, virtual, three-part Rock My Business workshop series, presented by Futurpreneur and RBC Future Launch. The series provides you with the tools to develop your idea, formalize your business plan and create a viable cashflow—all while connecting you with fellow entrepreneurs across Canada.

Note: Complete the Business Plan and Cash Flow workshops to qualify for free one-on-one coaching from one of our Entrepreneurs-in-Residence.

RBC Rock My Business Startup Awards: Eight entrepreneurs, $10k each

Futurpreneur and RBC want to help you launch your startup and are awarding eight young, aspiring entrepreneurs $10k to take their small businesses to the next level. Apply here.

• High Value Marketing – Moving Your Audience to Action, learn to set your brand (story) apart from the rest to make potential customers feel a unique connection with you. (January 23, 2023)
• ACTivate, Activating Community Tourism, learn how to apply a citizen-led approach to community development (February 28 – June 23, 2023)
• LIFT, progressively develop your new/enhanced tourism experience through a supportive learning environment and so much more. (March 2, 2023)

• Are technology-based
• Have identified a problem they want to solve and want to validate their solution
• Have less than $1M in annual revenues (pre-revenue companies are encouraged to apply)
• Have yet to develop a minimum viable product

Deadline for applications is February 2nd, with the first session on February 9th.