Nassau, The Bahamas — SBDC Bahamas marked a defining moment for small business development as it marked a major milestone, achieving over One Hundred Million Dollars in Funding to Small Businesses across The Bahamas. The special announcement took place at the Andre Rodgers Baseball Stadium on Thursday, May 7th, 2026.
At the event, SBDC Bahamas highlighted its “Road to One Hundred Million” campaign which was an ambitious commitment made by the Executive Director Samantha Rolle - for SBDC Bahamas to facilitate $100 million in funding, support, and capacity-building opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises across The Bahamas.
At the event, over $378,000 in funding was provided to 8 inner-city constituencies through its InPower Project. It was through this initiative that SBDC Bahamas was able to surpass its goal reaching a total of $100,283,954.50 in funding highlighting its impact and sustained investment toward the growth and resilience of Bahamian entrepreneurs.
While giving the keynote, Executive Director Samantha L, Rolle highlighted that this is not the end for SBDC but only the beginning of the next chapter. She said:
“And let it be understood that this is not the peak; this is simply the ignition point because today will not only be measured in dollars, but in businesses created, jobs sustained, families supported, and communities transformed. These are real results; and we are just getting started.”
Also in attendance at the event was Minister for Economic Affairs, the Hon. Michael Halkitis who also congratulated grant awardees and the achievement of SBDC reaching over $100 Million Dollars in funding. While speaking at the event, he said
"I want to congratulate SBDC on surpassing the remarkable milestone of $100 million in funding to Bahamian entrepreneurs. That is no small achievement, that is real economic empowerment taking place across our communities and throughout our islands."
The event brought together key stakeholders, partners, and members of the business community, underscoring the importance of collaboration in delivering meaningful and measurable outcomes for entrepreneurs across The Bahamas.
SUMMARY
8 Inner-City Constituencies, (Centreville, St. Barnabas, Nassau Village, Fox Hill, Marathon, Englerston, Bains & Grants Town, and Freetown.)
Nassau, The Bahamas — The SBDC Bahamas and the Eugene Dupuch Law School will formalize a strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to introduce Employment Law & HR Fundamentals—a practical, results-driven training programme for the business community.
Designed as a six-week course, this initiative will equip business owners, managers, and supervisors with essential knowledge to navigate employment law, reduce risk, and manage their teams with confidence and compliance.
This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to strengthening the operational capacity and resilience of Bahamian businesses by bridging legal education with practical, real-world application.
“This partnership represents a critical step in ensuring that our entrepreneurs are not only innovative but also compliant and well-equipped to manage their teams effectively,” said a representative from SBDC Bahamas. “Strong businesses are built on strong foundations, and this programme delivers exactly that.”
Through this initiative, participants will gain insight into key areas such as:
Executives from both organizations were present on Tuesday May 5 to commemorate the signing and outline the vision and impact of the programme.
About the Programme: Employment Law & HR Fundamentals
Duration: 6 weeks
Format: Practical, applied learning
Programme Focus:
Target Audience:
About SBDC Bahamas
SBDC Bahamas is committed to supporting the growth and development of small and medium-sized enterprises through funding, training, and strategic support. SBDC empowers entrepreneurs to scale sustainably, build capacity, and contribute to national economic development.
About Eugene Dupuch Law School
The Eugene Dupuch Law School is a leading institution for legal education in The Bahamas, dedicated to preparing legal professionals through rigorous training and practical experience. The institution plays a vital role in advancing legal knowledge and professional standards across the country.
Thirty-four men received funding through the Small Business Development Centre’s (SBDC) Men in Business initiative, with a total of $314,457.25 awarded during the grant announcement held at the SBDC Offices on Gladstone Road on Friday, March 13, 2026. The initiative is designed to fuel the growth of men-owned businesses across the country.
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance the Hon. Philip Davis said, “These awardees come from a wide range of industries across our economy, including agriculture, arts and crafts, automotive services, beauty, cleaning, construction, courier and delivery, education, energy, entertainment, fishing, fitness, food and beverage, landscaping, media, photography and videography, printing and signage, professional services, real estate, security, technology, tourism, transportation, and waste management.”
The Prime Minister said, “Some are building established businesses. Some are starting out. Eighteen are existing businesses operating for more than a year; sixteen are startups.”
He noted that much of this support will go toward production equipment and business supplies so these entrepreneurs can strengthen and expand their operations.
The Prime Minister also commended the SBDC for building the initiative in a way that speaks to the full man, as it goes beyond just giving a cheque.
“It includes Business Blueprint training. It includes Builder’s Lab masterclasses. It includes mentorship.”
He said, “It includes the chance for men to build confidence, sharpen their thinking, improve communication, strengthen leadership skills, and prepare for further financing as their businesses grow.”
The Prime Minister said that leadership carries a duty to widen access, create opportunity, and give people a fair chance to rise.
He said, “Too many young men have spent years feeling counted out, pushed aside, or left to figure life out on their own.
“That has cost us dearly as a country. We have to change that.
“We have to continue building a Bahamas where more young men can see a path in front of them. We have to build a Bahamas where more young men can find support before they lose hope. We have to build a Bahamas where more young men can move with confidence toward honest work, enterprise, fatherhood, service, and purpose.”
The Prime Minister said, “We will reverse the trend together through young men who choose discipline over drift, growth over excuses, and purpose over self-doubt.”
Minister of Economic Affairs, Sen. the Hon. Michael Halkitis; Executive Director, SBDC, Samantha Rolle and mentors for the initiative joined the grantees at the grant announcement.
