By Onika Campbell, Freelance Writer WESTERN BUREAU:
FARMERS IN Hanover are poised to benefit from a $3 million grant courtesy of a development project ordered by the British High Commission through the Kingston Restoration Company (KRC).
The donation, which will be distributed as a British Small Grant Scheme (BSGS), is aimed at supporting projects that will impact positively on the fight against poverty in the parish.
"The grant is an opportunity to enhance businesses and increase entrepreneurship in the parish," said Ryan Morrison, president of the Hanover Chamber of Commerce, who is optimistic about the project's viability. "At present, we are concentrating our efforts on the businesses in the region, encouraging them to concentrate on the fund for the overall development of the Hanover business district."
Based on the framework of the agreement, the only procedure that the KRC is required to follow is to ensure that the matching funds are in place for each grant.
In addition to the $3 million grant, the KRC will also be seeking to secure more funding so that other groups can become involved in the overall development plans for the parish. It is hoped that the private sector group and other individuals will contribute to the project. "If the project is done properly, it could provide a vehicle for moving on to larger and more ambitious endeavours. This is a real opportunity to begin to engage the wider private sector both in Hanover and beyond in the economic generation of the area," said Keron Morris, chairman of the Steering Committee of the KRC. "As a nation, we need to take bold steps to assist our people to provide for themselves."
