Trying to find a needle in a hay stack is as hard as, well trying to find a needle in a hay stack. And if the hay stack is as big as Prince Edward County it poses quite the challenge. We all know how great PEC is and how extraordinary our people and the products we produce are. The problem is if you do not live in PEC or if you simply don’t know everything that the county has to offer it can be difficult to know what is out there. Dan Taylor who is the Economic Development Officer for The Corporation of Prince Edward County has met this challenge with a unique solution. “In the past to experience PEC you had to physically visit and tour the county to see first hand what we offered. We are still encouraging tourism but now we are providing a tool for visitors and potential investors to experience the county from the comfort of their home” says Dan.

The solution is an interactive website which brings everything PEC to a single location on the World Wide Web. Build a new life (www.buildanewlife.ca) allows both investors and potential tourist to get a taste of PEC before visiting or investing. The site has everything from business opportunities for people looking to buy an existing business, or potential development opportunities such as commercial land for sale. It also has a section to make it easier for potential investors to get in contact with possible grants or loans officers. But who better to promote PEC then local residents and business owners. “Word of mouth advertising is the most powerful form of marketing available to any business” says Dan. “To harness this power and with the help of PELA CFDC who provided the necessary funding, we have purchased video and audio equipment along with an iMac.”

PELA CFDC is a non-profit organization, which operates out of Napanee as well as Picton. Along with grants and loans they also provide advice, counselling, and assistance in constructing a business plan, free of charge.

Local residents and business owners can check out the video and audio equipment from the library and create their own testimonial story about living and working in PEC. They can then edit their movie on the iMac located in the library and send it to the Corporation of Prince Edward County to be upload it to the web. The idea of mass collaboration is nothing new. It’s a phenomenon which can be seen

with such sites as YouTube and Facebook to name a few. Curious

entrepreneurs and everyday people can watch videos on such sites and share them with friends and colleagues around the world.

The website was launched on June 20^th and was held at the Clearwater Design Company in PEC and was actually a site of a canning manufacturer before being turned into a kayak manufacturing facility. The location was chosen because it showcases how businesses can relocate to PEC and can be successful while allowing people to live the dream as they say. Roughly 30 people showed up for the event including Craig Desjardins of PELA CFDC. “PELA CFDC is committed to providing access to capital to new and existing businesses in PEC. Tools like the Build a New Life website are an important mechanism in building awareness and connecting people. We are happy to provide support for this project through the Government of Canada’s Eatern Ontario Development Program.”

Eventually the website will act as a global market place like eBay in which local business can place their products to be sold over the internet without having to invest in e-commerce websites. Until such time it will primarily be a tool to allow residents to self promote their businesses and PEC as well as attract external investors from around the world.

To learn more about PELA CFDC and how we can help your or to speak to one of For more information on how PELA CFDC can help your current or new business, or organization you can contact one of our friendly and resourceful staff at either of our two convenient locations or visit us online at www.pelacfdc.ca