By ANNELIA NIXON

Tribune Business Reporter

anixon@tribunemedia.net

Up to $900,000 in grant funding was allocated to Bahamian entrepreneurs as part of an initiative designed to aid their growth while solving operational issues within the Government.

The Digi Innovative Projects Grant Programme, which concluded yesterday, fell under the Inter-American Development Bank’s (IDB) digital transformation to strengthen competitiveness in partnership with the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) and the Bahamas Development Bank (BDB).

“This program was launched under the broader government digital transformation to strengthen competitiveness project... funded by a loan with the Inter-American Development Bank, the IDB, and executed with support from our partners at Access Accelerator, the Small Business Development Centre, and the Bahamas Development Bank,” Michael Halkitis, minister of economic affairs, said yesterday.

“I want to express the Government’s profound gratitude to each of you for your encouragement, support and ongoing collaboration on this journey toward a digital society. For small island nations like ours, digital innovation is not only an expression of our knowledge and ingenuity, but it is also a pathway to resilience, sustainability and balanced growth. It allows us to confront traditional barriers to excellence, harness local expertise and compete on the global stage.  

“When we first made the programme available to applicants, we knew that we were taking a bold step. This was the first time in our nation’s history that the Government launched a grant programme specifically focused on ICT (information, communications and technology) innovation for the public service,” Mr Halkitis added.

“The grants were not just to fund business growth, but to stimulate systemic change. Not just to support entrepreneurs, but to enlist them as partners in our national development. With up to $900,000 in grant funding, 11 awardees were selected from amongst 25 to receive funding, with eight completing the programme and fulfilling their contractual obligations.

“Applications and proposals were received from individuals and organisations from across our archipelago, spanning sectors such as transportation, agriculture, environmental science, postal service, port and Customs operations, human resources and education. Today, one of you will be named the inaugural winner of the Digi Innovation Grants Program.”

Shirley Gayle, the IDB’s Bahamas representative, said the Digi Innovation Programme has the “potential to drive client-focused thinking and inspire behavioural shifts within the public service”.

She added: “Our support to this project, known as the government digital transformation to strengthen competitiveness project, is part of this broader commitment to The Bahamas. The project represents a major initiative intended to reduce the cost and complexity of doing business with government agencies.

“It pursues three strategic objectives. One, to streamline procedures, making services accessible online, thereby reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies. Two, to increase the adoption of ICT across the public sector. And, three, to enhance transparency and accountability by strengthening audit and control mechanisms.

“Within this framework, we are indeed proud to support the Ministry of Economic Affairs in advancing the digital transformation agenda. From the outset, we embrace the vision of the digital transformation unit in launching the Digi Innovation Awards, recognising its potential to drive client-focused thinking and inspire behavioural shifts within the public service.”

Patrick Davis, national co-oordinator for the ICT programme manager, said 25 proposals were submitted and 12 applicants were selected. He added that eight completed the programme.

“In August 2022, Bahamian developers from across this nation were invited to submit proposals aimed at improving specific operational procedures within the public service,” said Mr Davis. “Twenty-five proposals were submitted, and those proposals sought to tackle key challenges in transportation, job placement, agriculture, education, postal service modernisation and environmental management.

“Twelve applicants were selected, and those organisations were recognised in an award ceremony held in November 2022 at Baha Mar, where the Prime Minister made the presentations and addressed the awardees. 

“What followed was almost two years of planning, development, refinement and collaboration. Under the award, each organisation was required to set up a corporate structure, obtain a business license, open bank accounts, of course, update and submit project plans, outline technical timelines and delivery schedules,” Mr Davis added.

“They were also required to provide regular progress reports tied to funding and disbursement. And also to complete the research needed to align their work with real government needs. Eight of the 12 organisations completed the programme, having been held to strict spending, reporting and development milestones.

“And, in November 2024, the programme culminated in a final showcase of the eight awardees and their products. Each awardee had the opportunity to present a working prototype to an evaluation committee comprising technical experts.”