Access Accelerator, Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) is celebrating four years of empowering Bahamian entrepreneurs and business owners to reach their full potential through access to funding opportunities. The anniversary was celebrated with a press reception coupled with the launch of a new programme that will positively impact The Bahamas’ food production industry.
The Interim Executive Director Samantha Rolle said it was important that Access Accelerator celebrate its accomplishments.
“Our people provide an extreme level of commitment to our clients. The greatest reward that our team members experience is when our clients succeed. Our clients advancement of achieving their goals and dreams as entrepreneurs validates the success of the organisation,” she said. “The success of these individuals highlights what we are doing, our level of investment, our results and ultimately our impact. Commemorating every year that we have advanced Bahamian small business is certainly an achievement to celebrate.”, she added.
Since its establishment, Access Accelerator has serviced approximately 1,934 clients disbursing a total of 73 million dollars across 40 industries and 15 islands. It is notable to mention that 48 percent of the SBDC's client base are females and 52 percent are males.
Ms. Rolle said Access Accelerator’s key pillars are people, process and product. "My principal focus is to foster a results-driven, progressive culture leaning on the strategic values of people, strengthening partnerships - internal and external - enhancing our service delivery, and finally accelerating access for all," she said.
For Access Accelerator how we show up with our clients, partners, and our wider communities is important to us. To this end, we have adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) which will serve as the blueprint to accelerating action in equitable and inclusive processes that will improve the health and well-being of our Bahamian people and the planet at large. One of our primary SDG's is Zero Hunger, and as we mark the 4th anniversary of the organization, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Sustainable Food Growth Grant, a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island Affairs to develop production systems for national food security.
