Deputy Prime Minister is excited about UB IGNITE

“UB IGNITE, I am excited about UB IGNITE”. This is what Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and Investments, I. Chester Cooper, said at the recent GB Entrepreneurial EXPO 2024.

The Ministry for Grand Bahama held its second entrepreneurial expo this month at the Foster B. Pestaina Centre at the Pro-Cathedral of Christ the King in downtown, Freeport on Wednesday, 21 February. UB IGNITE was one of ten strategic partners invited to share their offerings with a diverse group of entrepreneurs and those interested in starting a business.

During the DPM’s remarks, he said that it is networking and collaboration that is needed to help small businesses grow.  “The resources of the government are being put today, in a show of force, an example of what can happen when we work together. You see, UB IGNITE, working closely with the SBDC and the TDC will create some economies of scale,” said the Minister for Tourism and Investments.

DPM Cooper further told the participants that they have a tremendous opportunity to bring ideas to this Expo and turn them into opportunities. “Today you can begin your planning, to seek funding, to engage in technical support, to participate in what we call an incubation process for new businesses. You have an opportunity, right now, to ride the growth that you will see in Grand Bahama.”

The Minister for Tourism and Investments was excited to tell the jam-packed room that “this is why it is so important right now to be well positioned…there’s no better time to be an entrepreneur in Grand Bahama than right now.” He went on to say that the expo was an occasion to learn, to earn, to aspire and to grow.

“I want to end as I started,” said DPM Cooper,  “as an entrepreneur, if I can get some grant money from SBDC, and a business plan from BAIC, and some technical assistance from UB, and if I can be fast tracked through my business license process at the Grand Bahama Port Authority, and if I can get COLLAB to offer me some marketing packaging, PR assistance for my business, then I will be well on the way.”