Truro & Colchester Partnership for Economic Prosperity Hires New CEO

The Board of the Truro & Colchester Partnership for Economic Prosperity is pleased to announce it has recruited its new CEO. Brennan Gillis, a resident of Valley, joined the organization on Jan. 8, to begin ramping up the work of the newly formed Partnership.

The hire is a result of eight months of volunteer planning and collaborative talks with businesses, communities and government partners to secure funding for the new Partnership. Gillis will co-locate with ACOA, NSBI and CBDC NOBL at 35 Commercial Street, Suite 208, Truro.

Gillis has worked previously with the Community Business Development Corporations, RRFB Nova Scotia (now Divert Nova Scotia) and Mitacs Inc., a national not-for-profit organization that funds innovative research collaborations between business and academia. Brennan obtained his Masters of Business Administration from Saint Mary’s University and has been an active volunteer in the community working with young professionals and business start-ups. He is passionate about the opportunities in the region.

“I’m really excited to work with the Partnership,” said Gillis. “I love living in this community. Working with a committed group of partners who want to grow the region and increase business opportunity – it’s a dream job.”

The Truro and Colchester Partnership for Economic Prosperity is a newly established Regional Enterprise Network (REN) financially supported by the towns of Truro and Stewiacke, the County of Colchester, Millbrook First Nation, the business community through the Truro & Colchester Chamber of Commerce and the Province of Nova Scotia. Partners have agreed to initially finance the organization for three years to encourage and stimulate economic growth.

In preparation for the strategic planning process which Gillis will spearhead in early 2018, the organization has contracted Turner Drake & Partners to complete an Economic Market Assessment.

“We are excited to have all the critical parts coming together now for our Partnership for Economic Prosperity,” said Mark Wood, Chairman of the Truro-Colchester Partnership and President/CEO of Ocean Sonics. “With Brennan starting in the New Year we hope to bring the business community together, grow our region and make it the place where people choose to live.”