Microenterprise Investments
 

 

There is an old proverb, “if you give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day, but if you teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a lifetime.” History proves that lasting change in a poverty culture is achieved by empowering the people to reach their full potential and become self-sustaining. ACE is invested in our community long-term and in conjunction with our partners in the US, we are identifying the circumstances of those around us in order to find real solutions for their unique needs. 

 

Micro-business is booming thanks to ACE and American business partners.
 Our Micro-business program exemplifies our motto: 

"Changing Lives. Transforming Communities."

What is the MIcro-Business Program? 

The Micro-Business program provides an opportunity for business men, women and students to get involved to benefit our local Jamaican community by sponsoring an approved Jamaican entrepreneur.  Ultimately, the goal of this program is to help our Jamaican friends operate a self sustaining business that will teach their children that a future is possible in a family business.

A Little History: 

When some friends from Ohio came to ACE, they led a micro-business seminar in St. Mary.  The little building was flooded with locals wanting to validate their ideas and learn how to start their own businesses. After the seminar, our loan program was set up for the most successful candidates: those who had finished the course and had the best business plans. From that early start, we now have launched more than two dozen micro-businesses.

 

How Micro-Business Works:

 

Promising Jamaican candidates will be visited at their homes or places of business by the volunteer team. Those approved for a micro-business loan are eligible to receive funds as soon as they are available. Loan monies are generated from payments that previous loan holders make to the program plus the interested earned, and from individuals and organizations that sponsor eligible Jamaican entrepreneurs.  

Current loan recipients are visited in order to understand how they are using their funds and expanding their businesses.  These visits also provide Americans with a first-hand experience of an average day in the life of a Jamaican businessperson.  The goal here is to build trusting relationships and mentoring opportunities.

As each loan recipient repays his loan over the loan period, the money coming back into the micro-business program can be sent back out as loans to other Jamaican business owners.

The Fruit: 

Besides families growing and prospering from our micro-business programs, the local churches may benefit as businesses give to their church, and local economies grow as loan recipients have more money to spend in their communities. Additionally, the micro-businesses recruit young people who want to learn the trade to continue the business in the future. Many mid-level income entrepreneurs are able to hire workers from a lower income socio-economic background.

Contact Us:

Please contact Teri Barhorst, Micro-Business Director via e-mail at teri@acexperience.org if you're interested in learning more about sponsoring a Jamaican small business enterprise. Our A.C.E. office stateside is also available to help at 877.500.5768.