The Tribune

Freeport small businesses received advice on how to prepare for, and rebound swiftly from, major hurricanes and other natural disasters at a seminar staged by a Grand Bahama Port Authority (GBPA) affiliate.

The GBPA’s Invest Grand Bahama Small Business Bureau (IGBSBB) hosted ‘Built to Bounce Back’, a full-day risk management and recovery workshop for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) at the Pelican Bay Hotel.

The workshop attracted business owners, bankers, insurers and civic leaders, and sought to drive home that resilience is not something businesses discover after a disaster - it is something they build before one. Sessions included a business continuity planning exercise, covering risk identification, crisis communication, recovery financing and the practical resources available through GBPA and IGBSBB.

“Every business owner in this room has lived through a storm, a shutdown, or a slow season that tested their limits - I know I have,” said Deann Seymour, GBPA chief financial officer.

“With Built to Bounce Back, we wanted to turn that lived experience into something practical - a plan business owners can pull off the shelf the moment disaster strikes rather than scrambling to figure it out in real time. That’s the difference between a business that survives and one that doesn’t.”

Tammi Mitchell, administrative manager of the Grand Bahama Disaster Consultative Committee, added: "In the years since Dorian, we've made meaningful progress. Public awareness of disaster preparedness has increased, emergency response planning has improved, and far greater emphasis is now placed on building resilience before disasters occur rather than simply responding after the fact.”

Ralph Hepburn, Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce president, reminded attendees that no business is exempt from risk and that preparation is a responsibility, not an option.

"No matter the size, nature or location of our operations, we are all prone to be affected by these events. So it is incumbent upon us to always have an executable plan and the means and resources to carry it out," Mr Hepburn said.

"Involved in this planning are assets, equipment, data, finances and connections with other companies and agencies, and the main ingredient is people. Employees and other persons play a meaningful role in the overall planning for before, during and the aftermath of any storm or incident."

The workshop began with a look at risk management strategies for MSMEs, advising business owners how to identify infrastructure, operational, technological, human resource and revenue-related risks before they become crises. It also focused on how businesses that prepare in advance recover faster, protect jobs and safeguard revenue when disruption hits.

Businesses were also urged to communicate with clarity and lead with confidence. They were given a clear overview of the resources available to them, learning how GBPA and IGBSBB tools and support services can help licensees build resilience after the workshop ends.

Recovery finance focused on the essentials - emergency cash flow, financial documentation, grant readiness and loan preparedness - giving business owners a clearer picture of what it takes to stay viable through a crisis. All participants also had to draft their own business continuity action plan before leaving.

"When I saw the ad for this workshop, I knew right away it was something I needed to tap into," said Sobig Kemp, pastor of Freedom International Ministries. "It's so timely, given everything we've experienced over the past few decades.

“Too often, we take preparation for granted and we get caught up in the every day responsibilities. This workshop reminded us just how important it is to be ready before the crisis comes, not after. Hearing from business owners who shared their experiences taught us a lot. It was a good gesture by the GBPA to invest in their licensees this way. I felt genuinely cared for, and that spoke volumes."