Promotion of grant funding, loan financing and other forms of business support is at an all-time high in Saint Lucia. The Department of Commerce’s Small Enterprise Development Unit is working to ensure people throughout the country are aware of these opportunities and can take advantage of them.
Small business owners from various parts of the south convened at the Micoud Community Centre this past Saturday for one of the department’s outreach activities, held in observance of World MSME Day.
In addition to running a business registration drive at the event, the department brought together representatives from organisations including the Youth Economy Agency, BELfund, the Community Tourism Agency and the Bank of Saint Lucia.
Attendees received information through presentations and one-on-one consultations, whether they were considering starting a business or growing their current one.
Small Enterprise Development Unit Director Roycelyn St. Hill Howell told St Lucia Times that the Department of Commerce’s grant programmes have generated significant interest, pointing to a wide appetite for self-employment. “We are seeing an overwhelming response. So, we are encouraged by the demand,” she said. “It’s also telling us that there is great need for … our agency to come together with our partner agencies so we can provide that relevant support.”
On Saturday, representatives explained the available grant funding opportunities, the required documents to apply, who is eligible, and how to qualify. Discussions also covered loan financing options for individuals at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey, along with other forms of support, including business plan writing assistance, concessions available to small businesses, financing opportunities for the underemployed, and strategies for accessing those resources.
Sabina Tertullien, who owns Terts’ School Supplies, a micro business, and is also a teacher, said the event was eye-opening.
“I mean, there are lots of programmes I was not aware of, a lot of training is being done by different organisations,” she told St Lucia Times.
Kerian Thomas, a chef with more than 24 years of experience who is now growing her farming and agro-processing business while encouraging healthy living and alkaline eating, said she heard about the event in the media and decided it was worth attending. She believes the information shared could be especially helpful to young entrepreneurs
“I think it is really, really important that a lot of young people take part in what has been discussed here today,” she told St. Lucia Times. “I, for one, did not know that there were so many branches offering so much service to young people that want to start up a business and stuff, so it was very, very informative today.”
The Department of Commerce says it remains committed to taking business support services and opportunities closer to communities in the south.
In February 2025, the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) opened its southern division on the third floor of the Uptown Business Centre in Vieux Fort. Since then, officers have visited communities across the south, including Soufrière, Laborie and Vieux Fort, and have also held smaller meetings and business registration drives in Choiseul.
