Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency

A time-delayed bait dispenser has won $100,000 in cash and in-kind services for designer and builder Vince Stuart of Meteghan Centre.

The dispenser was among winners in the provincial I-3 Technology StartUp Competition, an innovative competition to find and support high potential Nova Scotia knowledge based businesses.

Innovacorp, which runs the annual competition, announced the zone winners last week.

“We are excited about the start-up companies selected. We believe they are developing compelling and important new products and services,” said Clifford Gross, president and CEO of Innovacorp. “It’s gratifying to see the range and quality of entrepreneurial activity occurring throughout the province.”

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Taste of Nova Scotia members took gold in four of five categories at the annual Halifax Chamber of Commerce Business Awards on Thursday, January 26, 2012.

“This recognition acknowledges the hard work our local food producers put into the industry,” says Janice Ruddock, executive director of Taste of Nova Scotia. “And it proves that hard work pays off…that our local food producers can thrive and succeed in Nova Scotia.”

The Halifax Business Awards are intended to recognize those businesses and business people in Halifax who exemplify the best that the city has to offer: innovators, who are willing to take chances, push the boundaries and stretch the limits for success.

“At the Chamber we have the unique privilege to meet new businesses and business people, hear about new ideas, follow industry trends, and experience the inspiring optimism, confidence, and resilience of Halifax’s business community every day,” says Valerie Payn, president and chief executive officer of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce.

“Our 2012 finalists and winners have very different businesses, come from different backgrounds, including many local food producers which is great news for Halifax as we see more and more world-class products being made right here."

Taste of Nova Scotia members won awards in the following categories:

New Business of the Year

Gold: Schoolhouse Gluten-Free Gourmet Ltd.

Small Business of the Year

Gold: Cedar Bay Grilling Company

International Business of the Year

Gold: Clearwater Seafoods Limited Partnership

Silver: Acadian Seaplants Limited

Business Person of the Year

Gold: Jean-Paul Deveau, Acadian Seaplants Limited

For more information about Taste of Nova Scotia and its members, visit www.tasteofnovascotia.com.

Additional information about the Halifax Chamber of Commerce Business Awards can be found by visiting www.halifaxchamber.com.

The representative for the Town of Annapolis Royal is the new Board Chair for the Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency (ADEDA).

Holger Mueller-Sparenberg, who is also Deputy Mayor for the historic Annapolis County town, was elected at a recent meeting of the ADEDA Board.

Mueller-Sparenberg sees ADEDA’s role as a pivotal agency in coordinating economic development in the Annapolis Digby area.

“We are stronger when we work together”, he said, adding, “I see a key role for ADEDA in identifying and coordinating opportunities and inquiries, and facilitating the subsequent start ups”.

He also intends to take an active role in attracting newcomers to the area, and encouraging new approaches to traditional industries such as tourism.

Born and raised in Germany, Mueller-Sparenberg moved to the area in 1993 and has built a prominent and successful career in the real estate profession in south west Nova Scotia.

He has also been very active in community, fraternal and service organizations as well as public service.

The new ADEDA Board Chair pointed positively to the new Board structure recently adopted by the agency, one that puts a particular emphasis on specific sector representation.

“There’s a different spirit around ADEDA these days”, he said, “And the sector representatives work particularly well to keep us in direct touch with the business community”.

Looking forward to the challenges ahead, Muller-Sparenberg said that he also wanted to thank his predecessor as Board Chair, Annapolis County Councillor Paul McDonald, for his dedication and hard work.

A Middleton-based entrepreneur is hoping to take his business idea beyond flax-finding.

Howard Selig, of Valley Flaxflour Ltd., is putting together a plan to work with local farmers to create a new line of gluten-free products to sell throughout the region. Over the coming months, Selig will be looking for local producers willing to grow non-genetically modified corn and soya.

His company now employs four people and mills flax seeds that he brings in from other areas to use in his flax flour products. He hopes that creating this new line of products will not only grow his business, but also support the local economy and make use of some of the farmland now being underutilized.

Many people have food sensitivities that require a gluten-free diet. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, malts and is often used as a food additive. Selig’s flax products are already selling to this special market, but he wants to expand his product line using local producers.

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