New Brunswick Growth Opportunities

Strategic Brief from Portfolio

November 26, 2025

Where You Are

New Brunswick is at a pivotal moment. Premier Susan Holt's vision of Attract, Improve and Diversify announced this week will quickly gain momentum. National-scale opportunities are emerging. Infrastructure is expanding. Demographics are shifting.

But having a vision isn't the same as executing it.

Most businesses will see the same opportunities you do. The difference will be who moves fastest and smartest from strategy to action.

Three Pathways to Capture These Opportunities

Depending on where you are, we can help you seize New Brunswick's moment:

Path 1: Strategy First

You need: Clear direction on which opportunities to pursue and how

We'll deliver: Strategic roadmap using our Rethink Process to assess opportunities, evaluate your competitive position, and build an actionable plan

Best for: Companies considering major moves (facility expansion, new markets, significant partnerships)

Path 2: Execution First

You have: A general sense of the opportunity but need help executing

We'll deliver: Implementation support—from permitting and stakeholder engagement to partnership activation and market entry

Best for: Companies ready to move but lacking internal capacity or specific expertise

Path 3: Fractional Support

You need: Specific expertise at critical moments (permitting specialist, stakeholder relations, partnership development)

We'll deliver: Embedded experts who integrate with your team for defined projects or time periods

Best for: Companies with strong teams needing specialized knowledge or surge capacity

The Opportunities (Where We See Action)

1. Energy & Infrastructure

What's Happening:

• SMR and nuclear development creating supply chain opportunities

• Pipeline to Quebec opening logistics and permitting pathways

• Port and airport expansion in Saint John and Belledune

• Atlantic-wide coordination requiring NB business voices

The Execution Challenge: These aren't opportunities you can pursue casually. They require:

• Strategic consortiums and partnership structures

• Permitting expertise and regulatory navigation

• Capacity building (workforce, facilities, systems)

• Stakeholder alignment (Indigenous, municipal, provincial)

How We Help: We've built consortiums, navigated permitting, and aligned stakeholders for energy sector clients. We don't just identify the opportunity, we help you position for it and execute.

2. Critical Minerals & Community Development

What's Happening:

• 21 of 34 priority minerals identified in NB

• High demand globally, national funding available

• Local ownership and community benefit central to licensing

The Execution Challenge: This isn't just about geology—it's about relationships:

• Indigenous partnerships (essential, not optional)

• Municipal alignment (community benefit agreements)

• Supply chain positioning (exploration to construction)

• Stakeholder communications (managing expectations and concerns)

How We Help: We've led stakeholder engagement processes, developed community benefit frameworks, and positioned companies for partnership-based opportunities. We understand that the technical opportunity is only half the equation.

3. Knowledge Economy & Innovation

What's Happening:

• Tech talent growth and retention initiatives

• Innovation hubs and accelerators expanding

• Remote work making NB competitive for knowledge workers

• Federal and provincial innovation funding available

The Execution Challenge: Capturing knowledge economy opportunities requires:

• Brand positioning that attracts talent

• Partnership strategies with universities and innovation hubs

• Funding application expertise

• Growth strategies that balance scaling with sustainability

How We Help: We've repositioned companies to attract knowledge workers, structured innovation partnerships, and helped secure funding. We know how to tell your growth story.

Why Portfolio for This Moment?

We're based here. We understand New Brunswick—the opportunities, the stakeholders, the political dynamics, the community expectations.

We execute, not just strategize. Other firms will give you a report on NB opportunities. We'll help you pursue them.

We meet you where you are. Whether you need strategy, execution support, or fractional expertise, we adapt to what you need.

Next Steps: Three Questions

Before we talk about which opportunities make sense for you, we need to understand:

1. Where are you? 

   • Do you have a clear strategy for NB opportunities, or are you still exploring?

2. What's your constraint? 

   • Is it clarity (which opportunities?), capacity (who executes?), or capability (missing expertise)?

3. What's your timeline? 

   • Are you positioning for 2-3 years out, or do you need to move in the next 6-12 months?

     
     

Your answers determine which pathway makes sense and how we can help.

Let's Talk

mike@weareportfolio.com

Portfolio – The Strategic Action Company

Strategy. Execution. Or Both. We Meet You Where You Are.