Kingston's Mayor fosters entrepreneurial programme

Mayor of Kingston Angela Brown Burke has fostered a $2-million entrepreneurial programme, a gesture aimed at improving the economic development of the Kingston and St Andrew (KSAC) municipality.

"The local Enterprise Assistant Programme came out of the Economic Development Programme. While we were looking at what we could do, we recognised that there were some funding from Local Economic Development in the Caribbean (CARILED)," said Brown Burke.

According to the mayor, the Enterprise Assistant Programme involves an ongoing effort to facilitate the business ideas of persons who have not yet started a business and to help those who have already started.

Speaking with The Gleaner on Thursday, Brown Burke stressed that her plan is to help and guide micro business owners to add to the economic development of the KSAC municipality.

"So far, 65 persons have applied to be apart of the programme, while 18 have applied for the grants available. Of the 18, six are being considered for the grants. The three categories of grants are: start-up $50,000; business $100,000; wage incentive $150,000. The programme is more than just the grant. Our main focus is to get them ready to add quality to the field of business and economic development," the mayor said.