Established in the fall of 1997, the Saint Francis Xavier Enterprise Development Centre (XEDC) represents a partnership between the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and Saint Francis Xavier University. Located on 54 St Mary’s Street, our mandate is to enhance economic sustainability and growth in Nova Scotia's eastern mainland by promoting enterprise development and supporting small businesses. We focus on serving StFX students, staff and faculty as well as new and existing small business owners with an emphasis on linking university resources with the business community.

Since opening its doors,  XEDC has directly counseled hundreds of small business owners through both start-up and subsequent growth stages. And, consistent with national statistics, small businesses here have created the majority of new jobs in the region. Through it's educational programs and publications, the Centre has reached thousands of individuals; building capacity by imparting small business management skills covering such areas as marketing, production, financial, technical, and export development as well as taxation, succession and retirement planning. Not-for-profit groups have benefited from board training and industry associations as well as from strategic and business planning. The cultural community has prospered from apprenticeship and internship programs supported by sound business training.

If you have an idea for a new business, if you are interested in growing your business, if you want to hone your business management skills, the XEDC team is equipped to assist you. Our team has been carefully crafted to ensure that we can offer the solid, sound advice and training crucial to small business owners. Our programs and services are available to entrepreneurs of all ages, and are designed to meet the needs of small businesses at any stage in their development.

What can the XEDC do for you? We offer a wide range of services for small businesses, from individual business counseling and business planning to general and sector specific consulting and a wide array of targeted training programs. While our interests encompass a broad range of economic and community development activities, our specialties include business plan development, customized training workshops and publications, and market research.

As part of the Alliance of University Business Development Centres, we can connect you with expertise that addresses the full gamut of small business needs, whether you are interested in exporting to international markets, operating a business in the arts, wanting to access programs geared specifically to female business owners or requiring programs and services in French.

Mandate
The StFX Enterprise Development Centre's (XEDC's) mandate is to enhance economic sustainability and growth in Nova Scotia's eastern mainland by promoting enterprise development and supporting small businesses.

Mission
Connecting StFX and the community to support an enterprising mindset, entrepreneurial activity, and business start-up, sustainability and growth.

Vision
The StFX Enterprise Development Centre's (XEDC) is a dynamic and sustainable organization whose highly-trained staff provide creative business solutions in support of vibrant rural communities.

The XEDC team is committed to helping you start, grow and maintain a thriving business enterprise.  Our programs and services have been specifically designed to address small business issues.  To contact us phone 867-5543 or email us at xedc@stfx.ca

Mark Van de Wiel BBA, Jamie Stewart BBA, Paula Brophy BBA, Anne Toner Fung MBA, CFP, Melissa MacMaster BBA and Jackie Knocton