Amherst and the Municipality of the County of Cumberland will now deliver economic development supports directly through municipal staff, marking the end of a decade-long partnership with the Cumberland Business Connector. The change took effect June 29, 2026, after both councils reviewed how best to serve local businesses and entrepreneurs.
“This approach provides a direct reporting relationship to each municipality, resulting in greater accountability, more responsive decision-making, and improved alignment with each municipality’s strategic priorities,” the municipalities said in a joint announcement. Economic development staff will now be part of existing municipal operations, including payroll, human resources, IT, and budgeting.
Amherst Mayor Rob Small thanked the connector’s board, staff, and volunteers for a decade of work. “The Cumberland Business Connector has made many valuable contributions to our business community over the past decade, and we sincerely thank the Board, staff, volunteers, and business leaders who have helped advance economic development in our region,” he said. Cumberland County Mayor Rod Gilroy stressed that the new approach keeps the focus on shared goals. “Economic development is most successful when our communities work together. This new model will ensure the work remains focused on municipal economic development priorities.”
The connector, founded by local business people around 2016-2017 following recommendations in the Ivany Report, supported startups, youth entrepreneurship, and business education. While the organization will no longer deliver services, staff from both municipal units will keep working together on regional projects like tourism promotion, youth entrepreneurship, and business education.
The municipalities said they also plan to consult local business leaders as they move forward, aiming to make sure the new model reflects what the community needs to grow.
