Members of the Board of Directors, Doctor's Hospital partners and the Access Accelerators' first students recommended for funding celebrate the first round of successful candidates. December 2018

With a meeting near you

Freeport, Grand Bahama - The Access Accelerator Small Business Development Centre will kick off its movement to transform the Grand Bahama economy through the development of small and medium-size businesses. A series of events will be held in Grand Bahama over the next week and a half to celebrate the launch of this important initiative.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance The Hon. K. Peter Turnquest will deliver the keynote address at the official launch of the Access Accelerator’s Northern Bahamas operations, scheduled for Bishop Michael Eldon School Auditorium at 6:00pm on Thursday, January 31.

The Deputy Prime Minister’s remarks will shed more light on the government’s partnerships with the Access Accelerator. In anticipation of the launch in his hometown he noted “In the digital age that was, and the knowledge age that now confronts us, we have to rethink the way we see our society. We have to take stock of our natural resources and understand that our most important natural resource is our human capital. The idea of taking those natural resources and allowing them to flourish for each Bahamian entrepreneur is the driving force of the Small Business Development Centre model. We are excited by the progress already made and look forward with great anticipation to what is going to happen in GB because we know that when the Grand Bahamian spirit is coupled with access to the services and resources of the Access Accelerator- Grand Bahamians are going to be unleashed as the next great cadre of entrepreneurs and millionaires.”

Prime Minister the Rt. Hon Hubert Minnis officially opens the Access Accelerator in New Providence with Chairman of the board Geoffrey Andrews, Patricia Minnis and Executive Director Davinia Blair.

Subsequent Town Hall Meetings will take place in East Grand Bahama on Saturday, February 2, scheduled to be held at St. Nicholas Anglican Church Hall at 6:30pm, and in West Grand Bahama, at the Eight Mile Rock High School Gymnasium on Monday, February 4th, at 6:30pm.

By hosting town hall meetings across the island, The Access Accelerator lives up to its name in providing access to all. This is critically important because in the words of Minister for Grand Bahama Kwasi Thompson “We see the incredible potential for small business development that is in every settlement of GB. When we begin to see each other as partners we will begin to see just how vibrant and rich a culture and community we can really build. This is part of how I anticipate that the Access Accelerator will influence the way we think and build businesses in GB."

Executive Director Davinia Blair discusses the legacy of Bahamian entrepreneurs at an Access Accelerator launch event at the University of the Bahamas, one of the key Access Accelerator partners.

The Access Accelerator is the product of a tripartite arrangement between the Government, through the Ministry of Finance, University of The Bahamas (UB) and the Bahamas Chamber of Commerce and Employer’s Confederation (BCCEC). The Centre will work to guide the development, funding, growth and evolution of Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (“MSMEs”) in The Bahamas. This work will include training of entrepreneurs, mentorship by successful business owners and in some instances access to capital for expansion.

For more information, please visit www.sbdcbahamas.com, or follow us on Facebook, Linked In and Instagram at the Access Accelerator.