Above: St George’s, Grenada (CJ Photo)

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Grenada’s Ministry of Youth, Sports and Ecclesiastical Relations has launched a new “Entrepreneurship Programme,” which seeks to give young Grenadians the “skills and knowledge to start, grow and develop their own businesses and create new jobs.”

According to the Ministry, it is targeting 360 young people in the country who recently graduated from the Grenada Youth Upliftment Exercise.

“For those of you who are Entrepreneurs and want to begin your own business, you have the opportunity of engaging our ‘Small Business Enterprise Initiative,’ by creating a business plan and submitting it to this Ministry for consideration for funding,” said Veda Bruno Victor, permanent secretary at the Ministry during a graduation ceremony this week.

The Upliftment Exercise included training in areas such as health services, agriculture, beauty services, customer service, information and communication technology and media, among others.

“We need more young business people to create more jobs,” she said. “Entrepreneurship is the way forward for Grenada in terms of job creation and employment for our young people; and I really encourage you to consider this option.”

Approximately $185,185 USD have been earmarked for the program, which began in 2002 and offers funding of up to $9,259 USD to prospective entrepreneurs at an interest rate of 6 percent, according to the Ministry.

So far, the programme has helped lead to the launch of businesses including restaurants and bars, water taxis and beauty salons.