The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Staff Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

SOME 50 women entrepreneurs in Grand Bahama will have an opportunity to win grant funding through the US Embassy’s Academy of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) programme.

The programme, funded by the US Embassy, was launched in Grand Bahama last week in partnership with the Small Business Development Centre and the Women’s Investment Group. It will continue for 16 weeks.

Suemayah Abu-doleh, a public affairs officer at the US Embassy, said 50 participants were selected this year to mark 50 years of relations between the US and The Bahamas and the 50th anniversary of the Independence of The Bahamas.

Ms Abu-doleh said interest in the programme has been high.

She noted the Embassy is embarking on a ‘Just Road Tour’ to visit islands outside of New Providence.

To get the grant, participants must be over 18 and a resident of Grand Bahama. They don’t have to have a business, only an idea. For business persons, the company must be majority Bahamian-owned.

Samantha Rolle, executive director of Access Accelerator Small Business Development Centre, said the AWE programme is beneficial because it provides grant funding to help women entrepreneurs.

At the end of the programme, she said attendees will participate in a pitch competition where grant funding will be available for winners.

Although everyone will not get grant funding, Mr Rolle said participants would receive invaluable information from facilitators, industry experts and mentors.