Boost for August Town businesses

Atotal of 44 micro and small enterprises in the August Town, St Andrew community have been awarded grant support valued at $5.8 million under the Government’s Integrated Community Development Project II (ICDP-II).

The project is being implemented by the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF).

Omar Sweeney, managing director of JSIF, said that, in the first cycle of the ICDP-II, approximately $3 million was invested to support 24 micro and small entrepreneurs. With the 44 persons added last Thursday, a total of 68 enterprises have benefited from the programme.

“We want to create the type of community that every Jamaican deserves to live in; a community that is safe,” said Sweeney.

Member of Parliament for St Andrew Eastern, Fayval Williams, lauded the importance of small businesses to community development.

“These small enterprises have been the seedbed for new ideas and the testing ground for new ways of working. They often lead the way for new products on the market and new services, [and] help to foster local economies,” Williams said.

She encouraged the entrepreneurs to “get formalised”, so that they can take their businesses to the next level.

She urged community members to support these local businesses so that they can sustain their operations.

CONTRIBUTED Stephaney Jackson (fourth left), owner of Stephaney’s Moulding and Pottery Design, shows off her creation during a Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) presentation of the award at the Haven of Hope Open Bible Church in August Town last Thursday. Looking on are (from left): Inspector Stephen Taylor, member of parliament Fayval Williams, JSIF’s managing director Omar Sweeney; and Senior Manager, Social Development, JSIF, Mona Sue Ho.