The following summary of the Open Conversations held on April 25th was captured by the conversation leader.  We want to continue the dialogue, so please use the form below to provide us with your big, blue sky ideas!

Session Convenor: Jeff Roach

Participants: Lois Vincent, Patti Higgins, Anita Punamiya, Stephen Chase

Main Points from Discussion:

• Make Saint John the best place in North America to start a company
• “Safety Net” extended to entrepreneur 
• No EI benefits currently for entrepreneurs -- Maternity/paternity leave?
• Affordable buy-in to good benefit package for one person companies
• Mobile benefit plans for people, not companies.
• Expand freespots wi-fi giving more places to work in public
• “Red Tape Navigators” in City Hall. More of them, more publicity for them.
• Active mentor support – “A Gerry Pond for every entrepreneur”
• Better access to capital at critical stages
• Idea visioning by all – what does a business look like?
• Entrepreneurship taught in school at young age