Executive Director of Dominica Employment and Small Business Support Agency, Alexander Stephenson, is making a call for a National Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in Dominica.
Speaking on Thursday at the opening ceremony of OAS sponsored Module Four Certificate Training for SBDC counselors and directors, Stephenson pointed out that the health of small businesses is key to Dominica’s economic recovery.
“If we have a National Small Business Development Center in Dominica that is affiliated with the Association of Small Business Development Centers from the Americas including Latin America and CARICOM we will be able to address the challenges facing small businesses and SBDC’s across the country,” he argued.
He added that an SBDC will provide exposure to the latest thinking, the most advanced tools where one can acquire cutting edge and practical techniques to help make National SBDC programs more effective as well as network with fellow SBDC colleagues.
Stephenson noted further that Micro Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSME) act as agents for development and are the means for wealth distribution which in turn contributes towards the reduction of poverty.
“But for the MSME’s to drive Dominica’s economy to become a sustainable economy we need to invite critical stakeholders to the table hence moving forward Dominica must have an MSME model that is based on the public, private academia partnership to enable us to advance towards a comprehensive methodology for the competitive development of our businesses,” he stated.
He pointed out that if Dominica is to have a National SBDC there are a number of other steps which need to be taken.
The training is geared at improving the competitiveness of MSME especially those headed by women and is being organized by the Organisation of American States (OAS), Caribbean Export, and Institute for Economic Development at the University of Texas San Antonio and the United States of America Government for the establishment of Small Business Development Centers in Dominica using the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) module.
The SBDC Model is the main source of technical and managerial assistance for small businesses in the United States and its mission is to promote small business growth, innovation, productivity and revenue through improvement to their business administration.
Mr. Stephenson, I am from Dominica but reside in Florida. I am presently in Dominica for the independence activities and looking forward to partake in the annual discussions hosted by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs.
The SBDC is a very good initiative. I am presently benefitting from the Florida SBDC. As a former client of the NDFD in the days when Mrs. Bully and Mr. Walsh worked there I can say to you that the NDFD along with your Small Business Unit would do very well establishing a National SBDC for Dominica. It has no political biasness – you are either ready to start your own business or better of working for someone else ; it would help your government receive a lot more taxes and as such your government should invest in such a body. If you ask me this is smart politics. Dr. Thompson knows of these SBDCs in the US. Do not be afraid to talk with the brother.
Do not get me wrong , an SBDC does not mean you and my good friend Vincent will lose all you jobs; the model is adaptable to have you guys still work at Small Business but there will be a higher level of accountability and transparency since what will be different is the demands for economic impact to justify your budget request year after year.
I am happy that you have made a call for the banks and the schools of higher learning to join forces for the creation of an SBDC in Dominica. It means that the government does not have to train staff at Small Business to all have an MBA and the staff at the NDFD to all have an MBA. The Dominica State College and the UWI have all these bright minds with MBAs and PhDs in business plus the banks have experienced lenders that can all come together and take Dominica to the next level in business. I am told you have banking experience and experience as a board of director. Sir, use these skills to help the poor people in Dominica to have successful businesses.
A man like you would probably know these two websites that I am sharing with the public to put some pressure on you and your office to get on with the program of having an SBDC for Dominica
http://www.sba.gov/content/small-business-development-centers-sbdcs
and
http://www.floridasbdc.org/main.php
Mr Stephenson all I am hearing is talk. I do not know why you want to go into training when there are organisations doing that already. Look for small business initiatives for people . Stop all the sweet talk and take action. People need to work to make money to feed their family. Isn’t that why you are in existence? What really is your mandate? Please government take a hold of this Unit and stop wasting people’s money on initiatives that do not work.
The NDFD is a really great program but it is to rigid. As an entrepreneur I need to able access funding without a co-writer,after proper due diligence if I’m qualified process the funding an quit this co-writer obstacle please. Ease of business is what its called. If SBDC are going to consider these issues then your welcome, if its going to be the same old khaki pants, we entrepreneurs are tired of the RUNNING AROUND.
I think this would be a good initiative for encouraging entrepreneurship.
Dear Mr. Alexander,
The NDFD is doing that already, why replicate it.
AHHHH , Come on.!
wasnt that the purpose of NDFD?