Province Supports Nova Scotia Families, Protects Good Jobs
The province, Register.com and the Nova Scotia Community College are joining forces to maintain and create hundreds of well-paying, long-term jobs in southwest Nova Scotia, and to ensure workers have the skills to succeed in those jobs.
With the province's support, Register.com plans to create up to 100 new jobs, with at least 60 of those in the Yarmouth area.
"Nova Scotians want to learn and work here at home, and we're creating opportunities that will allow people to get ready here, for jobs here," said Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Graham Steele. "Register.com could have picked another place to take its jobs and grow its operation, but the company recognizes the optimism and energy in Nova Scotia, and the potential and expertise of our people.
"These kinds of partnerships are helping Nova Scotia build a reputation and workforce that will attract more business and investment, and give our young people more reason to believe they can succeed and raise a family here at home."
Register.com is part of Web.com, a leading provider of online services and Internet marketing solutions for small businesses. The company now employs about 430 people in Nova Scotia--280 in Yarmouth and 150 in Halifax.
The province announced today, May 31, that it will support Register.com to maintain its Nova Scotia operations, and protect and create hundreds of well-paying jobs for families and people like Shannon Franklin, one of the top salespeople at Register.com.
"I started working at Register.com in 2005," said Ms. Franklin. "I came to Yarmouth as a young child and fell in love with it, and my fiancé and I plan to stay here, work for Register.com, and continue enjoying all that Yarmouth has to offer."
Register.com's present agreement with Nova Scotia Business Inc. will be extended from six to eight years, creating up to 100 or more full or part-time jobs by 2015. Register.com's workforce would earn about $135 million over the eight-year agreement, money that workers can spend in their communities and to make life better for their families. The province has gained about $7 million in direct tax revenue since 2008 as a result of its present agreement with the company.
The company could earn up to an additional $2.72 million if the number of present jobs are maintained and at least 60 per cent of the new jobs are created in Yarmouth.
"We are delighted to work with the province to create more opportunity for career advancement within our operations in Nova Scotia," said David Brown, chairman and chief executive officer of Web.com, Register.com's parent company. "Our long tenure here reflects our commitment to our people and to this community, and these economic initiatives will help us fuel our plans for additional positions and higher skill levels going forward."
With support from the province's One Journey program, Register.com will work with the NSCC to develop new, tailored curriculum at the Burridge Campus in Yarmouth to ensure graduates can take advantage of the new jobs. A new skills upgrading program will offer present employees opportunities for career advancement within the company.
Register.com will also use $1 million from the Nova Scotia Jobs Fund for employee training and equipment costs.
Shane Taggart is studying web programming at the Burridge Campus and completed his internships with Register.com.
"Without the opportunities and good jobs offered at Register.com, I'd have to move away, which is something I'd rather not do," said Mr. Taggart. "I know a lot of the people already working at Register.com and it felt like home to be working there. I hope to work there full time after I graduate in June."
Web.com Group, Inc. is a leading provider of internet services and online marketing for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Web.com meets the needs of SMBs anywhere along their lifecycle by offering a full range of online services and support, including domain name registration, website design, search engine optimization, internet marketing and local sales leads, social media and mobile solutions, shopping cart software, eCommerce website design and call centre services. For more information on the company, visit www.web.com.
Nova Scotia Business Inc. is the province's private-sector-led business development agency. Through trade development, investment attraction, business financing and venture capital, NSBI assists local companies and attracts international companies to Nova Scotia.