An exciting funding announcement for Navigate was welcomed by Kellie Fey, Navigate Incubator manager; Dr. Julie Pitcher Giles, dean, School of Arts and Social Science; Dr. Billy Newell, director of Navigate and assistant professor; Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Jobs, Immigration and Growth; and Renee Wheeler, manager, Entrepreneurship Centre manager.

Navigate, a partnership between Grenfell Campus and College of the North Atlantic, is the recipient of 1.1 million in funding to deliver a new training initiative aimed at strengthening entrepreneurial capacity across Newfoundland and Labrador, presented by the Honourable Gerry Byrne, Minister of Jobs, Immigration and Growth.

“Entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking are vital for building a resilient workforce and a thriving community of innovators,” said Dr. Billy Newell, director of Navigate and assistant professor, Grenfell Campus business administration. “With the support of the Department of Jobs, Immigration, and Growth, the HELM Initiative will give people on the west coast of Newfoundland the skills to embrace AI, launch new ventures and strengthen our local economy. Grenfell Campus is very thankful for the support.”

The initiative will offer flexible, non-degree training programs that combine artificial intelligence education with entrepreneurship development. The Harnessing Entrepreneurial Learning and Mindsets (HELM) proposal works to address a couple of trends and has two main components.

“The first is our new a certificate in entrepreneurship,” said Dr. Newell. “We wanted to give this project the strongest chance for success. Part of this funding will help design and deliver this course through online channels. The second component is to expand and continue the work of Navigate flagship base camp program for early-state entrepreneurs, and the summit accelerator program for entrepreneurs who are ready to work full-time on their businesses. “

This funding is going to help with those initiatives, while supporting some other initiatives on the ground. To support to address trends,  Dr. Newell and team are pleased to be able to continue to work on embedding this practical and ethical use of AI, and to make companies tech enabled companies more productive in the wake of this new or in the age of this new technology.

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central to business operations, there is a growing need to ensure that entrepreneurs have the skills and confidence to integrate emerging technologies into their ventures. National studies show that Canada lags in artificial intelligence literacy and training, with fewer than one in four Canadians having received any formal artificial intelligence education. This project aims to close this gap by equipping individuals with future-ready skills, addressing labour market needs and fostering innovation across the province – particularly in rural and remote communities.

Navigate is Western Newfoundland’s hub for ambitious entrepreneurship, helping founders turn ideas into revenue-generating businesses and small enterprises into growth stories. This is carried out through selective cohort-based programs, targeted events that build AI-literacy and community, and professional coworking spaces that connect entrepreneurs with peers, researchers and mentors. By combining practical support with powerful storytelling, Navigate sparks a culture of entrepreneurship that is locally rooted, technology-forward, and visible far beyond the region.

“Artificial intelligence is transforming how businesses operate, and we want to ensure our workforce is ready to be leaders in the use of this emerging technology,” said Honourable Gerry Byrne

Minister of Jobs, Immigration and Growth. “This investment will help entrepreneurs across the province, especially in rural and remote communities, gain the skills they need to build future-ready ventures and drive economic growth.”

Key outcomes expected by 2029 include:

• Enrolling 25 participants in a university-level Certificate in Entrepreneurship.
• Supporting 30 early-stage entrepreneurs, resulting in the launch of five new businesses.
• Engaging 12 growth-oriented business owners to create 15 new jobs and attract over $1 million in private investment.

Additional activities will include hosting annual startup events, delivering artificial intelligence-focused workshops and publishing success stories to inspire future participants and showcase program impact. The project will begin in April 2026.

This project is funded through the Labour Market Partnerships program under the Canada–Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement.