Getting to 6Cent1, a co-working space for entrepreneurs and self-employed business people in isn’t easy. Every street on the way to the old factory region between Beaumont, Van Horne, Parc and Rockland seemed to head toward a branch of the CP rail line. Even a taxi driver got lost.
The spot may be out of the way, but for Maxime Bernier, the Minister of State for Small Business and Tourism, it was worth making the effort to get there during his Montreal visit last Thursday. He’s eager to meet entrepreneurs with unique concepts, and this was a chance to meet the people behind eight different companies all in one place.
Entrepreneurs are very important for the growth of the economy,” said Bernier. “I want to speak with them to get ideas about what the federal government can do. We’ve already dropped the tax rate for small businesses to eleven percent. We’re also working on reducing red tape in many other ways [see “cutting red tape” story for the latest three]. They told me that research and development is very important and we are revamping the way that we are giving R&D credits. It will be useful for my role in pre-budget consultations.”
The building at 400 Atlantic Avenue in Outremont may be located in an old industrial sector, but that’s the only thing that’s old. Inside, everything is renovated and modern. The wide wood floor beams shine. A small café with fresh fruit and vegetables on display beckons welcomingly at the entrance. There are even giant bike racks hanging on the walls next to the elevators for easy storage, even in the middle of winter. An elevator with an aluminum door carried everyone up to the sixth floor where we watched Bernier walking from desk to desk, speaking with youthful-looking energetic business people.
Among them were 6cent1 founders Mélanie Hébert and Fredric Clairoux. “We’re focussed on the network here,” said Clairoux, who operates an interior design studio called FXStudio in addition to building the 6cent1 concept. “We spend a lot of time organizing connections to build community. We hold barbecues and get-togethers. We encourage people to break their isolation.”
The space has been officially open since November 2011 and has been so successful that the co-founders are looking to open others like it all over the city. “We are 99% sure that we’ll have one downtown and another in Laval soon,” said Hébert, who runs Jack Marketing in addition to 6cent1.
The collaborative environment impressed Bernier. “It’s the first time I’ve been in a space like this,” he said. “These entrepreneurs are all in different sectors, like design, retail, construction…but they all have something to learn from one another. It’s very encouraging.”
The visit to 6Cent1 was only one portion of a full day of meetings with small business owners in Montreal. Bernier also visited Inno-centre, on Sherbrooke. Inno-centre employees coach business people and entrepreneurs hoping to start something new or grow faster. When he gets back to Ottawa, Bernier plans to meet with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to talk about what he’s seen and heard.
