The Small Business Bureau (SBB) has begun disbursing grants to small businesses to help see them through the difficult times brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to a Ministry of Business (MoB) release, these grants are part of the government’s Small Business Relief Grants and Services initiative. The first batch of recipients, the owners of 12 businesses, received cheques totaling $1.6 million, to assist them during this period.
The relief support is intended to strengthen and sustain small businesses through the provision of relief grants, training, and development support. Another set of businesses will receive relief grant cheques on Friday.
Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar, at the handing-over ceremony which was also attended by MoB Permanent Secretary, Karen Vansluytman-Corbin, and SBB CEO, Dr Lowell Porter, told the business owners that the government understands the challenges being faced by small businesses at this time. The minister acknowledged that while the grants may not treat with the full scope of their challenges, it is incumbent upon the government to offer some type of support. He also urged the businesspersons present to use the funds for the purpose for which they were intended, the release added.
