By ANNELIA NIXON

Tribune Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

The Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) yesterday provided grant funding worth a collective $100,000 to ten entrepreneurs with disabilities.

The SBDC, in partnership with the Ministry of Social Services, the National Commission for persons with disabilities and the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture, executed on its Persons with Disabilities initiative that its executive director, Samantha Rolle, described as “the first of its kind locally”.

“At the SBDC, we have dedicated a great deal of time and resources to develop this programme that deeply impacts all entrepreneurs,” Ms Rolle said. “As we prepared for this programme, the SBDC team completed sensitivity training to ensure we serve entrepreneurs with disabilities with greater empathy and understanding.

“Through this initiative, we were also able to offer training and mentorship that specifically benefited entrepreneurs, while also encouraging our community to support businesses owned by persons with disabilities.

“Today, we are proud to announce that ten entrepreneurs throughout the Bahamas will receive $100,000 in grant funding through our inaugural entrepreneurs with disabilities initiative. These recipients represent a wide range of industries - from landscaping to food and beverage, consulting and more, highlighting the diverse abilities of these entrepreneurs.”

Rashard Ritchie, assistant director of youth at the Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture, which provided funding support to recipients between the ages of 18 and 35, added: “Sustainable development has become a bit of a buzz word over the last several years. In just about every news story or speech at a conference, or in places like these, we hear the words ‘sustainable development’.

“For some, these words represent skyscrapers, large manufacturing plants or solar power stations. And while these may be great for society, it is not all that is required for sustainable development. True sustainable development requires equity, inclusion and forward thinking minds that challenge stigmas preventing development.

“Stigmas are major challenges for achieving development goals. There are many stigmas in our society today that stifle our development as a country. One of the major stigmas that is a barrier to inclusive and sustainable development are stigmas regarding persons with disabilities,” Mr Ritchie added.

“Some think they are unable to do anything because of their ability, or that their disability hinders their ability. If we are to progress towards sustainable development as a country, then there must be no place for stigmas like these. When we stigmatise disabled persons, rather than be inclusively innovative, we limit the greatness we can achieve when we break barriers.

“This Entrepreneurs with Disabilities grant initiative is an example of how the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Small Business Development Centre are breaking barriers hand-in-hand with partners like the National Commission for persons with disabilities and the Ministry for Social Services. This initiative has cancelled the stigmas of society and brought us closer to realising our goal for a better Bahamas.”

David Seymour, a young entrepreneur who owns and runs a music studio aimed at providing support for mostly disabled singers, said the grant funding will help “secure” his business and allow him to help others.

“I try to make sure they have more understanding with music because certain studios, when you go to studios, they don’t really help you along the way,” Mr Seymour said. “They just there to really make money. So for singers, I try to give them as much help as I can.”

Another recipient, Kirkland Culmer, owner of Culmer’s Mechanical & General Construction, added: “I must thank God for the Small Business Development [Centre]. This grant will allow me to purchase some more tools which is needed for the business, and help me finish fixing my shop, and give me a chance, an opportunity to train others.

“My disability don’t define me. In fact, a lot of times I thank God for it. Like I tell anyone with disability, if you believe it, you could achieve it. You could do anything.”