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Small Business Unit

Portia Nicholas

Portia Nicholas

Business Development Officer I

Portia Nicholas

Business Development Officer I

Micah Walter

Micah Walter

Business Development Officer II

Micah Walter

Business Development Officer II

Small Business Support Unit

1.0    INTRODUCTION

The Small Business Support Unit (SBSU) promotes the growth of the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Dominica. The Unit assists these businesses through the provision of financial and technical services and contributes to national development by creating sustainable livelihoods. The SBSU is critical to the development of the MSME and business sector by extension since these businesses contribute meaningfully to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Dominica. Additionally, they create rural economies through the creation of employment and circulation of monies within their respective geographical locations. The SBSU is headed by the Executive Director and is assisted by Business Development Officers, Projects Officer and other support staff.

 

2.0     BACKGROUND

Small business development has formed part of the government portfolio since 2009 and operated as an agency under the Ministry of Trade until 2014. From 2015-2019 the program operated under the Ministry of Commerce, Enterprise and Small Business Development until its merger with the Ministry of Tourism in 2014. The SBSU now forms part of the current portfolio of the Ministry of Labour, Public Service Reform, Social Partnership, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development. 

 

3.0    CORE FUNCTIONS

The core functions are as follows:

  • To deliver training to small and medium size enterprises in areas such as financial management, marketing, customer service, business management, time management, and personal and professional development.
  • To enhance urban and rural economic development.
  • To provide advice, advocacy and hand-holding support to small and medium enterprises
  • To make financing available to micro, small and medium size enterprises
  • To implement Governments Small Business Policy Strategies

 

The SBSU is involved in the implementation of multiple programme interventions to include:

  • Policy and Legislative Framework
  • Small Business Grants Programme
  • Support to Value Added Industries
  • Support to Producers of Local Juices
  • Small Business Technical Assistance
  • Training
  • Manufacturing and Agro-processing Technical Committee
  • Value Added Product Catalogue
  • UNDP Future Tourism Grant Programme
  • Marketing / Public Awareness
  • Memorandum of Understanding – Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce (DAIC)
  • Memorandum of Understanding – Dominica Bureau of Standards (DBoS)
  • Business Registration Documentation
  • Product Label and Logo Design / SBSU Website/ Business Signage and Cards
  • SBSU Data Entry/Management System
  • Fiscal Incentive License
  • Business to Business Forum
  • Central Processing Facilities
  • Commercialization of Tourism Sites

 

OBJECTIVES

The primary objectives of the SBSU are:-

  • To promote entrepreneurship and innovation through training, mentorship, and access to networks and resources.
  • To promote the creation and growth of small businesses through capacity-building, access to finance, and business development services
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Through this website, we aim to provide information and resources to support employment, entrepreneurship and small business needs.

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