Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter

Rohan Dawkins (left), business development officer of the joint JAMPRO-European Union Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP), hands a certificate to Palmetta Lowe from Swallowfield, following the completion of the 10-day 'How to Start a Business' course for inner-city residents. The event took place at the University of Technology, Technology Innovation Centre, where the PSDP-funded course was held

A group of residents from the inner-city communities of Swallowfield, Trench Town and Arnett Gardens are now closer to turning their ambition and skills into a business.

Fourteen young men and 10 young men, selected by church groups, graduated on Friday from the 10-day 'How to start a business' course. This was hosted by the University of Technology (UTech) Technology Innovation Centre (TIC) and funded by the joint JAMPRO-European Union (EU) Private Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

Several participants whom The Gleaner spoke said that they now felt ready to enter their chosen industries.

"From school, mi like it and a want to do it from dem time ... This taught me how to do it as a business," said 17-year-old Trench Town resident Quwami Hylton, who is training to be a welder and according to his business plan, needs to raise $110,000 to start his own venture.

Donovan Sheddon, four years older, and living in nearby Trench Town, is also looking to make something of his childhood interests. He now plans to use a course in ornamental fish and accompanying $50,000 grant offered by the Ministry of Agriculture to join what is a growing industry in Jamaica.

"I chose it because I used to have fish from when mi younger an' mi used to have a pond to grow them ... It (the training) help me a lot still - it show me how to manage a business and manage cash flow," said Mr. Sheddon.

sources of loan funding

Likewise, Palmetta Lowe, 37, from Swallowfield, said that the course had helped her learn about sources of loan funding. This she hopes will finally enable her to take advantage of her self-taught ability to make clothes and bags.

Delivering a motivational talk to the graduates, Vincent George, senior general manager at the National Housing Trust (NHT) said that the trust was considering a proposal from Dr. Henley Morgan of the Arnett Gardens-based Agency for Inner-City Renewal to establish a business incubator to accompany the new Inner-City Housing Project (ICHP) in that community.

The NHT has also set aside funds for small-business loan packages to be made available in areas where the ICHP schemes have been built, said Mr. George.

"It is clearly logical for us to get involved in this way because of the amount of unemployment that exists at the same time when we are offering mortgages. So it suits us to identify people with good business ideas but low funds, and to offer them loans," he added.

ross.sheil@gleanerjm.com