As one of the last remaining independently owned fish processing plants on the Northern Peninsula, Northern Lights Seafood Inc. represents this province’s past and future. For entrepreneur and owner Andy Schnare, this company serves as a tribute to his past career as a fisherman and as a beacon for the community of Main Brook.

Started in 2009, Northern Lights Seafood employs more than 30 people in a community home to fewer than 250 people. . The processing plant serves as both a stable employer and an anchor tenant for Main Brook, thus helping draw other businesses to the region. Through its strong relationship with the town and its residents, they all work to support each other and to survive the changing realities of the fishery and rural Newfoundland and Labrador.

“The fishery is a competitive industry that relies on the hard work and dedication of fish harvesters, who in turn support their communities, families and our collective future. Having worked as a fisherman for many years, I felt that I had an opportunity to support my roots and the next generations who will continue to call Main Brook and other rural communities home. Northern Lights Seafood has allowed me to support the local economy, invest in good hardworking people, and build a supportive partnership with the town.”

-       Andy Schnare, President, Northern Lights Seafood Inc.

During the building and expansion phases of Northern Lights Seafood, the company worked with the local Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC) to help modernize and expand its operations, and to grow the number of its employees. CBDCs assist in the creation of small businesses and in the expansion and growth of existing businesses by providing financial and technical services to entrepreneurs.

“There is a tremendous amount of entrepreneurial talent throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. The role of CBDCs are to act as a launching point to greater things. We provide a number of business services and funding programs that can help take an idea and turn it into a reality. We have been proudly doing this for more than 30 years. Getting a new or expanding business started and off the ground is quite an undertaking, and we take tremendous pride in seeing businesses like Northern Lights Seafood succeed and become a community leader.”

-       Roseanne Leonard, Managing Director, Newfoundland and Labrador Association of CBDCs

During the 2016-17 fiscal year, CBDCs in Newfoundland and Labrador have disbursed more than $20 million to help start, maintain and modernize small businesses throughout the province. Over the past year, this funding has helped leverage an additional $14.5 million in funding from other sources and to create and maintain more than 860 jobs. On the Northern Peninsula, CBDC provided more than $900,000 to businesses, resulting in the creation of over 30 new jobs and helping to maintain one existing position.

CBDCs provide a variety of services to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses including financial assistance opportunities, business counselling and advice, entrepreneurship development and training, technical assistance, and advocacy.