Connected Country Living

The Annapolis-Digby region offers tremendous potential for new and existing businesses:

• One of the lowest costs of doing business in North America
• Skilled workforce
• 100 million consumers within a 24-hour drive
• Connected to the world through FUNDYweb Broadband Network

Business leaders know the advantages of networking with like-minded individuals. The Annapolis Digby region bursts with opportunities to work with visionary business and community leaders. Our role is to establish cross-sector partnerships that allow you to expand your goals and the vision of your business.

Bringing people together is our specialty. Facilities for large or intimate business conferences and training exist throughout the region. Our picturesque settings and diverse attractions, create a relaxing atmosphere for generating and embracing new opportunities.

Broadband
The FUNDYweb Broadband Network is a community-owned, 48 strand fibre-optic network that runs through Annapolis and Digby Counties. This infrastructure allows the world to do business here, and you to do high-speed business with any part of the world without sacrificing your relaxed lifestyle.

Broadband service is also provided by Aliant and Eastlink.

Infrastructure and Transportation
The Annapolis Digby region's ferry link to New Brunswick means short trucking time to the New England and central Canadian markets. Travel times on the Digby – St. John ferry is 11 hours to Boston, MA; 13 hours to Montreal, QC; 14 hours to New York, NY; and 19 hours to Toronto, ON. This includes time on the ferry.

The Halifax Stanfield International Airport (HSIA) is only 2 hours away from the Annapolis Digby region and is rated as one of Canada’s Top 10 airports with over 3.7 million passengers in 2006. Daily direct flights are available to Boston, New York, Toronto, Montreal, and many other North American destinations. This airport is the only airport in Atlantic Canada to offer U.S. pre-clearance. International flights to London, England and other destinations also provide seamless connections to the rest of the world.

Digby Municipal Airport is the highest airport in Nova Scotia at 499 feet above sea level. It boasts the greatest number of fog-free days and the smoothest runway in the province. The surface itself is approximately 1200m (3950 feet) long and 23m (75feet) wide with potential to expand to 2,100 m (7,000 feet) long. It is capable of handling a DeHavilland DHC8, and therefore best suited for landing corporate jets.

The Port of Halifax is within a two hour drive of the Annapolis Digby region and has one of the world’s deepest ports that can be entered at any level of tide. The port lies 86 km (54 miles) from the Great Circle shipping route that connects North America and Europe. This major shipping port is served by over 30 shipping lines. The Port has two post-Panama container terminals, two auto port terminals, oil and refining terminals, general cargo terminals, Ro-Ro terminals, and a large modern shipyard and dry-dock. The comprehensive port facility ensures businesses throughout Nova Scotia have access to worldwide markets and suppliers.

Innovation through Technology
The Annapolis Digby region's rural innovation is achieved through technology and partnerships. This technology has been used to strengthen both traditional and emerging industries. We’ve been recognized nationally as one of Canada’s Smart Communities and internationally as one of the world's top seven Intelligent Communities.

Technology facilitates integrated service delivery which benefits businesses, community groups, educational institutions, as well as the delivery of government services.

For businesses this means:

• Facilities wired for high tech industry
• Multiple videoconferencing sites
• Affordable high speed internet
• A skilled workforce
• Access to advanced research and development
• E-commerce portals
• The ability to analyze microclimate data for niche agricultural applications
• Extensive online service delivery, ranging from renewing car registrations to ordering library books

One example of rural innovation is Nova Scotia Community College’s Centre of Geographical Sciences (COGS) in Lawrencetown. This specialized institution has leveraged its expertise in land-based geomatics. COGS offers internationally-recognized programs in information technology, computer programming, remote sensing, cartography, and geomatics. It is part of the Annapolis Valley Campus which includes the site at Middleton and a Community Learning Centre located in Digby. The Middleton site is home to the Applied Geomatics Research Centre.