In a press conference this morning, the University of New Brunswick’s J. Herbert Smith Centre for Technology Management and Entrepreneurship (TME) announced the first cohort of Scale Up Atlantic Canada, a program to help urban and rural businesses with the “Three Cs of Growth” — customers, capacity and cash — with the goal of increasing sales by 25 per cent. The partnership with the Government of Canada and Opportunities New Brunswick (ONB) was announced in December 2018, and the 15 companies included in the first cohort, who will participate in workshops for the next six months, are:

Auto City, Fredericton, N.B.
B4 Checkin, Halifax, N.S.
Blacks Transfer, Saint John, N.B.
The GAP Group, Keswick Ridge, N.B.
Gemba Software Solutions, Saint John, N.B.
InteliSys Aviation Systems, Saint John, N.B.
Ispire, Saint John, N.B.
Kelson and Kelson Ltd, Saint John, N.B.
Kognitiv Spark, Fredericton, N.B.
Magnetic Hill Winery, Moncton, N.B.
Measurand, Hanwell, N.B.
MLT, Moncton, N.B.
Mrs. Dunster’s, Sussex, N.B.
Sedin Technologies , Fredericton, N.B.
Velsoft, New Glasgow, N.S.

Truro’s inaugural Home Hardware closes after more than 60 years
After more than half a century, the hardware store at 45 Willow Street in Truro is closing. The store was first opened in 1938 and was also the area’s first Canadian Tire until 1973 when it was converted by Les Mosher — who has worked at the store since he was 12 — to Truro’s first Home Hardware. The building has been sold and the shop will close its doors March 31.

P.E.I. getting juiced with new electric vehicle charging stations
The federal government announced funding for six new level-3 fast charging stations across Prince Edward Island today. The stations will be operational by the end of the year and are located at Tim Hortons in O’Leary, the Maritime Electric Service Centre in Summerside, Gateway Village in Borden-Carleton, the Canadian Tire in Charlottetown, Wood Islands Area Development Corporation and Irving in Souris.

Downtown St. John’s china shop closing
Another downtown shop is closing its doors in St. John’s. After 48 years in business, Kitchen Queen China shop, which has supplied Newfoundland and Labrador with fine china, dinnerware and gifts are closing its doors. The shop at 176 Water Street will be shuttered at the end of this month.

February 2019 unemployment fluctuations in Atlantic Canada
For the first time in nine months, Prince Edward Island’s unemployment has risen over 10 per cent, rising from 9.9 per cent in January 2019. Newfoundland and Labrador’s unemployment rose slightly over last month from 11.4 per cent to 11.8 per cent, as did New Brunswick’s — from 8.2 per cent to 8.5 per cent. Nova Scotia was the only province to see a drop from 6.9 per cent to 6.4 in February.

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