Julie Kennedy, Caribbean Director for the Pioneers of Prosperity Awards Program shakes hands with the President of The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, Gregory Moss moments after signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Thursday, February 19, 2009 in Grand Bahama. Also pictured sitting is Mercynth Ferguson, Executive Director of The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce at left and Abigail Noble, Country Representative for the Pioneers of Prosperity Awards Program at right. Standing from left to right is Justin Sturrup of The Bahamas Development Bank and Councilor Fritz Thompson of the Local Government Office in Grand Bahama. Photo by Vandyke Hepburn.

Grand Bahama Island -- The Pioneers of Prosperity Awards Program is on a country wide search for The Bahamas’ most outstanding business leaders . Officials of the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, The Bahamas Development Bank in Grand Bahama and Local Government Office on Grand Bahama came out in show of support for Pioneers of Prosperity by attending a launch event held on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce.    The event was opened by Gregory Moss, President of The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, who expressed enthusiasm for the Program’s debut in Grand Bahama.

“I am excited about what it (The Pioneers of Prosperity Awards Program) means for the Grand Bahama economy...,” said Moss during his opening address.

Julie Kennedy, Director of Caribbean Region for Pioneers of Prosperity along with Abby Noble, Country Representative for Pioneers of Prosperity gave an overview of the program. Also in attendance were Mercynth Ferguson, Executive Director of The Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, Local Government Councilor Fritz Thompson, and Justin Sturrup of The Bahamas Development Bank in Grand Bahama.

Pioneers of Prosperity is a global awards program that seeks to inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs in emerging economies by identifying, rewarding, and promoting truly outstanding businesses who can serve as role models to their peers.  

In addition to being eligible for grants of up to $100,000 USD to invest in technical infrastructure and training for their companies, winners of the Pioneers of Prosperity Award will be connected to networks of technical expertise, potential investors, and other cutting-edge entrepreneurs on the local, regional, and global level.