Kickstart Your Business with Unite BVI's Kickstart
Three questions...
Are you planning to start a new business, or expand an existing one?
Do you intend on using your business to make a positive impact on the environment or the BVI community?
Do you need financing?
One more question -
Have you heard about the Unite BVI Kickstart Loan Programme?
In short, it's a loan programme created to help businesses access financing, training and development resources, while aiming to EMPOWER and SUPPORT local entrepreneurs. The loans are zero interest, and no down-payment nor collateral are required.
Applications opened yesterday, so go ahead and apply. Yes, apply. Today.
Here's the link to the Initial Assessment - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc-8siv7CwfYBILqKE6UawFiXy-Wb5nwiPSywJ_FbOoQT6QJw/viewform
The deadline is September 23, 2020.
After the initial stage, eligible applicants will be asked to submit a final application which includes a Business Plan and Financial Questionnaire. The deadline for final applications is October 19, 2020.
(Continue reading if you're still not convinced)
There are two (2) loan types.
The Kickstart Micro-loans are smaller with a $5,000 maximum, and must be repaid within a two-year timeframe. They are primarily to support start up small businesses or help existing small businesses expand or diversify. To be eligible, the business must have a “Force for Good Approach”, but the central service, product or function of the business does not have to have a direct social or environmental positive impact.
What's new this year is the IMPACT loan.
Impact loans are larger ($25K maximum) and must be repaid within a three to five (3 – 5) year timeframe. Funding is restricted to support social impact enterprises that directly address either an environmental or societal challenge facing the BVI with a business-based, sustainable solution.
For more information, click the link - https://www.unitebvi.com/kickstart-bvi-small-business-loan-programme.
Still not convinced?
Here's a list of the previous loan awardees:
- Alex Dick-Read (Wu) - Ground Sea Adventures
- Alex Durante - EC Soaps (East Caribbean Salt & Soap Company Inc.)
- Lenette Lewis - Sageroots
- Kristin Frazer - Trefle
- Carrie Wright - VI Plastics
- Orandae Pitt (Randy) - Sea Lingo
- Terri Benjamin - Chic Gourmet
- Nathan Wond - Alternative Concrete Solutions
- Kelvin Fahie - A Place Where Healing Begins
- Nea Talbot - Full Belly Farm
- Ezrena Morton - EcoScapes
- Rudolph Lewis - Lifeline Transport Services
- Shevon Findlay - AkuARoots 24Hr Family Care
You may know some, or even all of them. They are real people just like you who have great business ideas and who just needed help. It's more than a loan. It's access to business training and development, along with networking opportunities, empowerment and support.
(You're still reading, which means you may still have some questions.)
That's fine.
Please send any questions you have to [email protected].
You'll receive all the answers to any and all of your questions.