Starting this month, a new pilot program funded by the government of New Brunswick will connect immigrant entrepreneurs with local business mentors, in order to help them integrate more successfully into the province’s business environment.

Business New Brunswick Minister Victor Boudreau, who is also the minister responsible for New Brunswick’s population growth secretariat, announced last month that the province was providing $75,000 for this project, which will begin in the Fredericton area and be administered by the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.

The program is expected to attract more immigrant entrepreneurs to New Brunswick and encourage them to establish roots in the province.

"Ultimately our goal is to help immigrants be successful with their investments in our province, and in doing so, bring our province closer to self-sufficiency," Boudreau said.

In the first year of the program, two groups of twelve immigrant entrepreneurs will be paired with local business mentors and learn about the business culture in New Brunswick.

"We feel strongly that newcomers have much to contribute to Fredericton's economic growth, and we look forward to connecting our network of experienced entrepreneurs with business immigrants to foster this growth," said Anthony Knight, chief executive officer of the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce.

Boudreau said he expects to announce similar programs in other areas of New Brunswick in the near future.

The Maritime Provinces have increasingly been introducing initiatives to attract and retain newcomers in recent months. In December, Nova Scotia launched the Immigrant Small Business Financing Program, which provides immigrants who have resided in Nova Scotia for less than five years, and who wish to start their own small businesses, with up to $150,000 in financing.