The Municipality of the District of Guysborough (MODG) ranks in the top 10 of North American regions / cities for lowest overall business operating costs.

MODG offers significant cost savings on labour costs.

Source: KPMG Competitive Alternatives, 2014

The office and industrial market in Nova Scotia is cost-competitive with a diverse array of office buildings, warehouses, and land available - see charts below.

* Rental Rates Reflect Asking $PSF/Year

Source: Cushman & Wakefield (2014)

Source: CREA & Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Housing Market Outlook-Canada Edition-Q2 2014

Nova Scotia Business Inc.'s payroll rebate is a performance-based incentive offered to eligible companies expanding in or locating to Nova Scotia. The rebate is generally paid out annually over a term not exceeding five years and is a return on eligible gross payroll.

The Business Development Program (BDP) is designed to help small and medium-sized companies set up, expand or modernize their business. The BDP provides access to capital in the form of interest-free, unsecured, repayable contributions. There is a $500K cap for normal assistance, but BDP has the flexibility to go to a $1M in exceptional of interest-free, unsecured, repayable contributions.

BDC offers a wide range of services to help you grow your organization, such as a business loan to start or acquire a company, or purchase commercial real estate or new equipment.

Nova Scotia Business Inc. works with a network of traditional lenders such as charted banks, equity partners and government lenders to tailor make a funding package that specifically meets your company's needs.

A refundable corporate tax credit that provides a 15% tax incentive to businesses making a capital investment of at least $15 million. The credit is being aligned with the federal Atlantic investment tax credit, valued at 10%, meaning some projects could earn a corporate tax credit of 25%.

Nova Scotia's export and trade programs help your company take full advantage of the province's capabilities in shipping and logistics. Export your products to the world from Nova Scotia with the assistance of these funding programs:

Nova Scotia Business Inc. has a team of trade & export experts, with sector and market know-how, dedicated to helping Nova Scotia companies enter and continue to pursue growth in markets around the world.

Export Development Canada (EDC) provide insurance and financial services, bonding products and small business solutions to Canadian exporters and investors and their international buyers. EDC also support Canadian direct investment abroad and investment into Canada in partnership with other financial institutions and through collaboration with the government of Canada.

The Duty Deferral Program offers Canadian businesses many of the same duty and tax incentives as those in free trade zones around the world. For example, you don't have to pay duties and taxes on imported goods that you plan to export, even if these goods undergo a wide range of processing and manufacturing activities while you have them. Using these programs may be a sound business move, enabling you to lower your costs and improve your cash flow.

Canada is the first country in the G-20 to offer a tariff-free zone for industrial manufacturers. Canada has implemented a major new initiative that saw tariffs on all machinery, equipment and industrial manufacturing inputs reduced to zero in 2015.

The Workplace Innovation and Productivity Skills Incentive (WIPSI) provides funding to companies to encourage investment in skills development and certification. It is also designed to help companies adapt to the introduction of new technology and innovative processes, improve productivity, and strengthen international competitiveness.

A company may apply for support toward the cost of the following activities:

• purchase of training from a formal training institution or qualified external or internal
• training provider
• registration, tuition or course fees
• international training
• management skills development
• skills development training leading to certification
• training that supports workplace diversity
• other skills development and training based on a valid business case

There are different cost-sharing requirements depending upon the size of the business and level of incentive sought. The minimum training incentive for businesses under WIPSI is $5,000. Small businesses under 50 employees seeking a training incentive between$5,000 and $10,000 are not required to contribute cash but an in-kind contribution is required (e.g., employee wages during the training period). Small businesses seeking incentives in excess of $10,000 are required to share costs. For larger businesses with 50 or more employees and industry associations, applicants may apply for support up to a maximum of 50% of eligible cost. Additional criteria may apply depending upon the level of incentive being sought.

The Strategic Cooperative Education Incentive provides private sector, government- funded and non-profit organizations 50% of the required minimum hourly wage of $15.00 CAD an hour for co-operative education opportunities.

The Graduate to Opportunity program (GTO) provides salary contributions to employers to offset the cost of hiring a recent graduate and assist post-secondary graduates find career opportunities in Nova Scotia.

Nova Scotia employers that meet one or more of the following criteria are eligible for the program:

• a company with fewer than 100 employees, and/or
• a start-up company, incorporated within two years of the application date, and/or
• social enterprise, not-for-profit organization, or registered charity, with recognized standing
• The employer must offer a permanent full-time position with a minimum annual salaryof $30,000