Investing in Our Community
The Town of Pictou realizes the importance of its business community and maintains strong support and incentives to foster business growth and retention within the community. From light manufacturing to large national corporate enterprises such as Michelin Tire, Advocate Printing and Publishing, and Aecon Fabco, Pictou County is a vibrant region centrally located on the Northumberland Shore in Northern Nova Scotia. With direct connections to the Trans Canada Highway (via 106 & 104), it is approximately an hour from major transportation hubs of Halifax including an including the Stanfield International Airport and train linkages. With a commercial shipping port, a historic waterfront and a closely arranged downtown core, Pictou has the capacity to support business growth and new development.
The Town of Pictou is primarily a local service centre for surrounding communities in Pictou West (with a population of 9,261) offering legal, professional, financial, government and healthcare services, and plays host to numerous first-class festivals and events that keep it buzzing with activity year-round. Downtown Pictou houses a diverse and unique collection of shops and retail stores offering shoppers whatever they need year-round from gifts to necessities, all within walking distance of convenient all-day free parking.
Pictou's entrepreneurial spirit is stronger than ever and the success of our economy continues to be powered by an impressive host of great business leaders. Our community is unique in terms of the number of entrepreneurs who have started their business here and now lead companies that have achieved global success. Pictou is home to world-renowned Grohmann Knives, a family-owned business of over 50 years, who ship their product internationally.
To learn more about business and investment opportunities contact Kyle Slaunwhite, CAO at kyle.slaunwhite@townofpictou.ca to find out more about why the Town of Pictou is a good choice for your business.
For a more in-depth Community Profile visit Census Canada.
There are many resources to assist you in investing or starting a business in Pictou
Town of Pictou Administration Office
Town of Pictou staff can help direct you to the appropriate agency to assist you, provide local business contacts, and provide general information on the Town's economy, taxes, bylaws, and development opportunities.
Contact the Pictou Town Hall at 902-485-4372
Pictou County Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of Commerce is a network of Pictou County businesses and professionals from a variety of sectors. The Chamber of Commerce advocates on behalf of the local business community.
Contact: Jack Kyte, Executive Director, info@pictouchamber.com or 902-755-3463
Northern Opportunities for Business Limited (NOBL)
NOBL is a flexible term loan program for small and medium-sized businesses, offering up to $125,000 in financing for business start-ups, expansions and other business purposes. They also provide equity loans for young entrepreneurs and administer the Self Employment Benefit (SEB) program. For more information visit NOBL.
Pictou County Partnership
The Pictou County Partnership formally known as the Pictou County Regional Enterprise Network (PCREN) is a not-for-profit organization tasked with driving economic development in Pictou County. Through a partnership with the Province of Nova Scotia, Pictou Landing First Nation, Municipality of Pictou County, and the towns of New Glasgow, Pictou, Stellarton, Trenton, and Westville the Partnership initiates, leads, and contributes to sustainable economic growth in Pictou County by fostering a culture of collaboration, navigating organizations to the resources they need, and engaging in meaningful economic development projects. Contact: office@pictoucountypartnership.com
Tourism Investment in the Town of Pictou
Tourism has played an increasingly important role in the economy of the Town of Pictou in recent years and represents one of its greatest opportunities for future business development in the area. For more information on investing in tourism contact:
- Destination Eastern and Northumberland Shores Association - email cindy@visitdeans.ca
BizPal
BizPaL is an online service that helps business people create a customized list of licences and permits they may need to start or operate a business in Nova Scotia. Your customized list of licences and permits draws information from all three levels of government (municipal, provincial and federal). For more information visit BizPal.
