By Staff/August 26, 2021
The new chairperson of the Celtic Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC) says, in part due to COVID-19, now is a good time to see what the community-based lender has to offer.
“We assist with anyone who is looking to start a business, or grow a business,” said Nicole Bruce. “Through this pandemic there are probably a lot of people who received a lay off slip, and they don’t know where to go from here. There are opportunities for them to look into starting their own business.”
Current businesses have had to think on their feet just to stay afloat due to the pandemic restrictions.
“A lot of businesses are struggling, “said Bruce. “Anything with social interaction was put on halt. So, businesses needed assistance keeping up their bills and keeping staff employed. Pivoting and evolving mostly. A lot of businesses have had to turn on a dime, and figure out, ‘What can I do now, if I’m a restaurant and I can’t have walk-ins, how do I accommodate my staff, and how can I accommodate my clients?’”
In a world where ‘Zoom calls’ have become a household term, video chats have become one tool in the toolbox to help businesses manage the pandemic.
“I can meet with a client from any part of the world, at any time, and that’s also possible for youth, it’s possible for people who are retired and looking for a side business,” said Bruce.
The CBDC helps business in a variety of ways, from providing loans to advice to networking to training sessions on topics ranging from marketing to bookkeeping.
Youth Ventures, the wing of the organization dedicated to supporting and encouraging young entrepreneurs, is still active despite the pandemic, with the awards ceremony being held virtually last week.
“There are so many young, talented people in all of our regions,” noted Bruce.
The Bay Bulls resident was elected as chairperson in the last year, and had been on the board about three years prior to that.
“In a previous life, I used to work with NLOWE (Newfoundland and Labrador Organization of Women Entrepreneurs),” said Bruce. “I love business, and I love talking about business… When I left NLOWE, and I started up my own business again (Bullseye Branding), I really enjoyed the entrepreneurial side of things. And one day I got the CBDC newsletter in the mail, and I noticed they were looking for extra board members. So, I put my name in the game.”
This year also marks the thirtieth anniversary of the CBDC Celtic, which serves 32 communities along the Southern Shore and St. Mary’s Bay, from Goulds to Riverhead.
