UNB Saint John receives federal funding to help local businesses
Author: Communications
Posted on Apr 7, 2010
Category: UNB Saint John
The University of New Brunswick in Saint John received $150,000 today for 24 student internships through the Small Business Internship Program (SBIP), launched by the federal government last year.
SBIP allows businesses to hire a student for a 12-week period to help them establish an e-commerce project related to their business. The program helps small and medium size firms across Canada grow while also providing information technology internships to students.
"As New Brunswick's national comprehensive university, we have an important role to play in growing our local and national economy," said Robert MacKinnon, UNB vice-president (Saint John).
"Through the SBIP and the work that the Electronic Commerce Centre (ECC) has done,UNB Saint John has been able to really help small, local businesses compete in an increasingly competitive environment."
During an announcement held today at UNB Saint John, Rob Moore, MP for south-eastern New Brunswick and Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism, and Rodney Weston, MP for Saint John announced the funding to UNB Saint John, as well as the national launch of the SBIP for 2010-11.
“I am pleased to be on the East Coast to announce the launch of SBIP in New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, and nationwide for 2010,” said Mr. Moore. “SBIP will help small businesses grow and generate jobs though the power of information and communications technologies and e-commerce. The program demonstrates the government’s support for the small business sector, which creates so many of our new jobs."
UNB Saint John’s ECC developed the foundation for SBIP based on research it had conducted
“The SBIP program has been a fantastic avenue for the ECC to broaden the scope of its outreach programs, which have recently been focused on helping small and medium enterprises in New Brunswick and PEI with their e-commerce and internet marketing activities,” said Daniel Doiron, director of the Electronic Commerce Centre at UNB Saint John.
The program provides companies with a reimbursement of up to 75 per cent for the student’s salary and benefit costs. Alongside UNB Saint John, there are 14 other SBIP delivery agencies across the country.
About UNB
Established in 1785, UNB is one of the oldest public universities in North America. With more than 12,500 students from more than 100 countries, UNB has the best student-to-faculty ratio of Canada’s comprehensive universities, according to Maclean’s magazine. As the largest research institution in New Brunswick, UNB conducts over 75 per cent of the province’s university research. The university has more than 3,500 faculty and staff, and an annual operating budget of more than $160 million. UNB’s two main campuses are located in Fredericton and Saint John, New Brunswick.
Contact:
Natasha St. Pierre, Communication Officer (506) 458-7969