Upcoming Launch for Window 2 of the Regional MSME Matching Grants Programme

Added: 2026-05-21

[00:00:03]Micro, small, and medium enterprises in the blue economy will once again receive a financial opportunity to expand their businesses with the help of the OECS Commission.

[00:00:13]Through the Unleashing the Blue Economy of the Caribbean or UBEC, the OECS Commission will make grant funding available to value chain groups.

[00:00:22]Blue economy MSMEs in the fisheries, marine tourism, and waste management sectors in Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are eligible to apply to the upcoming second call for proposals for window two of the regional MSME matching grants program.

[00:00:41]Grenadian business owner Kasha Ragbirsingh says the grant enabled her business to improve its water conservation efforts.

[00:00:49]We are in a very harsh environment, and water conservation is a very important part of our operations. The grant has allowed us to add on an additional 2,000 gallons of water, but not just any water, we literally are harvesting rainwater. So, this will allow us to service spaces such as our pool, service our garden area, and not tax the actual water system, and we actually be using that because it's all part of our eco-friendly mandate. Value chain groups are eligible for grants from 100,000 US dollars to 150,000 US dollars. Kayaking business owner in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Cephas Heins, was able to purchase some much-needed equipment. One of the things that we didn't have before is a support vessel that would go that would follow the kayaks along or would follow the paddle boards. Um, so, when we got the grant, that was one of the major things for us. We wanted to get a support vessel. The grant enabled us to get a 14-ft a 14-ft dinghy.

[00:01:49]Um, and it we also were able to get an electric engine.

[00:01:53]While these grants recipients received individual grants under the window one call for proposals. Window two assists value chain groups in their expansion.

[00:02:04]The official launch of the grant program will be held virtually via Zoom on Friday, May 22, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

[00:02:13]To learn more about eligibility and details of the virtual launch, go to the Ubec webpage at the OECS website at www.oecs.int or email [email protected].

[00:02:30]For OECS Newslink, I'm Jacquie Henson Compton.

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