PEI Connectors is a program that the chamber of commerce initiated and has operated since 2011. We have worked with 600 entrepreneurial newcomers to Prince Edward Island. Primarily, they are referred to the program through the provincial nominee program. Our role in that program is to support newcomer entrepreneurs, or those interested in becoming entrepreneurs, in getting access to the information they need, such as regulations, marketing, and basically all the tools that a new business would need in the Prince Edward Island business environment. We work one on one with them, and we also present group training.
The other piece of the program is that we help connect existing businesses, or businesses that are looking for succession planning, with newcomer entrepreneurs. The importance of the program can't be stressed enough in terms of both our retention and our population development for Prince Edward Island, which I think was noted in my presentation. We've seen great success. As I mentioned, we've worked with 600 newcomer businesses. Again, through the Atlantic growth strategy, we're expecting many more in the coming year.
Thank you.