#Freeport, GB, November 20, 2019 – Bahamas – A number of businesses were recipients of grants from the Small Business Development Centre and the Office of the Prime Minister on Friday, at the Office of the Prime Minister, Grand Bahama.
The
businesses were either existing, looking to expand, or start-up and would be
located anywhere from East Grand Bahama, to Freeport, to West Grand Bahama.
The
recipients were: Sunny Side Food Truck, owned by Jaimmee Gaskins, specializing
in baked goods; EJ’s Café in McLean’s Town; Peaches and Cream Boutique, owned
by Sally Forbes, a clothing boutique; Junkanoo Shoe Company, owned by Tamika
Knowles, a local shoe manufacturer; Bahamas Disposal Waste Treatment and
Supplies, owned by Mervin Dean, specializing in hazardous water removal; Yellow
Tail BioFuel, owned by Phillip Kemp specializing in renewable fuel sources;
Utopia Nature Gardens, owned by Chaka Woodside, featuring organic produce;
Voluptuous Beauties, owned by Beneta Pinder, a women’s clothing and accessory
store; New Era Productions, owned by Quninton Gordon, a multimedia production
firm; New Horizon Travel, owned by Hortense Russell, a travel agency; and Lost
At Sea Jewelry, owned by Sherrill Bethel, specializing in sea glass jewelry.
Three of the
businesses were recipients of grants and loans from the Small Business
Development Centre, while the others received grants from the Office of the
Prime Minister.
Minister of
State for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator the Hon. J.
Kwasi Thompson took the opportunity to announce the Small Business Technology
Upgrade Initiative. He noted in the downtown area where a number of
businesses were flooded, people’s paper records were destroyed.
“We are now
moving into the age of technology and we are making that push for Grand Bahama
to be the Technology Hub of The Bahamas and this region; one of the things we
think about is if we are truly going to call ourselves a technology hub, then
existing businesses must have the capability of using the latest
technology. This is one of those things where your need meets your
opportunity and the hurricane provided the opportunity and made the need far
more relevant.”
As a result
of Dorian, said the Minister, businesses can now rebuild using the latest
technology.
The Small
Business Technology Upgrade Initiative “is designed specifically to create new
opportunities for small businesses to access grant funding (up to $2,500)
ear-marked for the introduction and/or upgrade of technology-based
infrastructure within their enterprises.” Infrastructure includes
data/cyber security; cloud computing and storage; website design/implementation
and enhancement; hardware/software (i.e. point of sale systems etc.); mobile
applications; collaboration/remote workforce systems; marketing services
(social media advertising etc.); productivity/financial management systems; and
customer relationship management (CRM).
Davinia
Grant, Executive Director of Small Business Development Center (SBDC), said she
was excited to be at the presentation because it proves that what they are
doing works; and supporting small businesses, strengthens the
economy. There are currently 200 applications from Grand
Bahama. Despite the passage of the recent hurricane only two months
ago, people have shown they still want to pursue their dreams and what they
envisioned. “That’s what resilience is. Despite all the opposition, you decide
to push with your vision.” To date, approximately $185,000 in SBDC
grants and small loans have been approved.
Mrs. Grant offered advice: “If you’re looking to rebuild your business, one of the major things that impedes a small business from being able to access credit or equity investments is the lack of records.” She said that very few small businesses have proper financial records, and this is making it difficult for them. SBDC has systems in place to assist small businesses in this area.
By Robyn Adderley
Release: BIS
Photo Caption: Following a brief presentation, November 15, 2019 a number of businesses received grants from the Small Business Development Centre and the Office of the Prime Minister. Shown from left seated are: Sharmine Johnson (SBDC); Evette O’Conner (SBDC); Minister of State for Grand Bahama in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator the Hon. J. Kwasi Thompson; and Davinia Grant, Executive Director, Small Business Development Centre. Shown from left standing are: Mervin Dean; Hortense Russell; Sally Forbes; Quinton Gordon; Benita Pinder; Jaimmee Gaskins; Phillip Kemp; and Conrad Jones, Office of the Prime Minister.
(BIS Photo)