KINGSTON – The U.S. Government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and Alcoa recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to investigate ways to strengthen and support small businesses and community development efforts on Jamaica’s South Coast.
Brenda La Grange Johnson, US Ambassador to Jamaica and Mr. Alberto Fabrini, Managing Director, Alcoa Minerals of Jamaica LLC, signified their commitment to help support community development efforts that will focus on the creation and/or improvement of community-based rural enterprises, development of cultural and natural heritage sites at tourism attractions, improvement of linkages between the tourism and agricultural sectors and the protection of Jamaica’s biological diversity.
Projects will be based on community needs and priorities of USAID, Alcoa and the community.
Ambassador Johnson noted at the signing ceremony that this activity is part of USAID’s public-private alliance approach to development that mobilizes the efforts and resources of governments, businesses and civil society for increased impact and sustainability of projects.
“Partnerships such as the one we are establishing are critical to the development of communities”, she said. “When we partner with organizations such as Alcoa, we bring new perspectives and expertise to our projects. We also broaden the investment base of the project for greater impact and sustainability,” said the US Ambassador.
Brenda LaGrange Johnson, US Ambassador to Jamaica and Mr. Alberto Fabrini, Managing Director, Alcoa Minerals of Jamaica LLC, signing the Memorandum of Understanding that signifies their commitment to help support community development efforts on Jamaica’s South Coast.
Mr. Alberto Fabrini concurred and further stated that development of these types of projects are a key focus for Alcoa as it helps to build sustainable communities and creates opportunities for people living in rural areas.
The first joint project being investigated under the partnership is an extension of a current USAID funded project, JA- FARMS (Jamaica Farmers Access to Regional Markets Project) that helps to develop a supply chain model to improve the ability of agro-processing firms to partner with small growers across Jamaica.
The project identifies ready markets, and then works to engage producers to supply these markets. JA FARMS also helps participants to utilize more efficient means of production such as the use of special greenhouses called High Tunnel houses for greater production and better quality.
Through the joint Alcoa/USAID initiative, and working in partnership with the Mocho Community Council, proposals are in place to establish three to four tunnel houses as business incubation and training facility in Mocho, Clarendon. Trainees will manage the tunnel houses and grow produce for specific markets.
Successful trainees will be eligible for a potential grant under the business incubation program to establish their own tunnel house business on reclaimed land.
For future joint-activities under the partnership, USAID will work through its Rural Enterprise, Agriculture and Community Tourism (REACT) program. REACT is responsible for assisting small-scale businesses, community-based organizations, and non-government organizations (NGOs) to improve the viability of productive initiatives in rural areas, with particular focus on agribusiness and tourism development.
