Dionne MacDonald came to CBDC Cumberland seeking financing to open a small business.  In April of 2004 Dionne was approved for financing of $5,500.00 under the Youth Seed Connexion Program.  In May 2004 she officially opened Plan it! Ideas and Management. The business offers services such as wedding planning, event planning, grand openings, symposiums, conferences, etc.  Her business is home based in Amherst and services all of Cumberland County.  Dionne only ended up utilizing $4,000.00 of the approved funds.
Ms. MacDonald comes from a background of entrepreneurs; her father and mother own a successful hardware store for the past 20 years which she has worked at since she was 14 years old.

      CBDC Cumberland hired Plan it! in January 2005 as a coordinator for the 24 Hour Youth Retention Project in Springhill.  She was able to bring together partners in Cumberland County to participate; such partners included the NSCC Cumberland Campus, Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre, Chignecto Regional School Board and the Town of Springhill.  The project turned out to be a success which created a Youth Retention Strategic Plan for Cumberland County which was distributed to Municipalities, MLA’s, Schools and RDA’s to name a few.  The strategic plan was partly developed by compiling information from students through Cumberland County who attended a 24 hour symposium full of workshops, games and presentations and through research of out migration, employment issues, immigration and trends of the aging population.

      Dionne MacDonald continues to provide her service to Cumberland County with enthusiasm and a vision to expand her services outside the County.