Halifax-based Marshall Media Group (MMG) announced a "New Media"/Information Technology development centre in Charlottetown today. Using the province-wide broadband network, the centre will develop and test innovative applications for a variety of sectors ranging from medical and educational to commercial and entertainment.
"New Media" refers to information, resource materials, pictures, and images produced in digital format used in computer-based platforms such as the Internet.
"The expansion of Marshall Media to PEI is a clear and positive sign of the growth of the information technology industry on the Island. Government recognizes the potential for continued expansion and economic growth in information technology and looks forward to working with Marshall Media and Holland College to further develop this sector," said Pat Binns, Premier of Prince Edward Island.
This partnership with Holland College will provide a unique training opportunity in the Information Technology (IT) industry. The centre will fill an existing gap in the province by meeting the growing demand for training in the technology industry and provide Holland College students enrolled in the college's IT related programs with hands on experience.
"This announcement is an important step in positioning the college as a leader in high-end, state of the art learning environments. It is through the college's partnerships with government and the private sectors that students have the opportunity to develop skills in realistic work situations," says Bill MacPherson, Director of Planning and Development, Holland College.
Atlantic Canada-based Marshall Media is a leading company in its field and provides such services as high-end computer animation, editing/special effects and leading edge internet applications development, i.e. e-commerce, electronic publishing, business to business on-line communications, etc. MMG has developed an "IT Partnership Model" which fosters relationships between leaders in education and industry.
The MMG PEI center will facilitate these relationships allowing for the development of real-time curriculum specific to the needs of the IT /"New Media" job market. This model will help contribute to the stable growth of the "New Media" development industry on PEI.
"There is an immediate need to take advantage of the emerging business opportunities for value-added internet content," said Jeff Marshall, President of MMG. "Island Tel Advanced Solutions has one of the leading broadband infrastructures in North America and this makes Prince Edward Island an ideal environment for leading edge application development and testing. This infrastructure will provide MMG a competitive advantage in the export of high-speed internet applications for a global market."
The centre will also result in the creation of 26 highly skilled jobs with an annual payroll of more than $1 million. The project received $520,000 from Enterprise PEI and $120,000 through the Knowledge Economy Partnership.
The Knowledge Economy Partnership (KEP) is an initiative of the Province of PEI, the Government of Canada, Holland College, the University of Prince Edward Island and private sector business. The goal of the partnership is to advance the growth of the knowledge economy on Prince Edward Island.