News – Esirom Foundation

Eight Entities Get $160 Million in Grant Support from DBJ

Andrew Laidley — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 15:46:42 +0000

Eight medium-sized entities have received grants totalling $160 million to support their business ventures or innovations.

The support was provided by the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ) under its Boosting Innovation, Growth and Entrepreneurship Ecosystems (BIGEE) Innovation Grant Fund, which is being implemented in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

Each entity received $20 million to assist in the development and commercialisation of innovative products, services and processes and new business models.

The eight beneficiary companies, which represent the fourth cohort of BIGEE recipients, are Esirom Limited, Saddle Energy Limited, HDB Manufacturers & Distributors, Medical X-Ray Institute Limited, Sunshine Dialysis Centre Limited, Clubhouse Brewery, Adtelligent Limited and BookFusion Limited.

Speaking at the grant-signing ceremony at the DBJ’s Oxford Road location on Wednesday (September 25), the entity’s Managing Director (Acting), David Wan, explained that the Government and the IDB signed a US$25-million loan agreement in 2021 to build out a robust and sustained entrepreneurial system.

The IDB also negotiated and secured a non-reimbursable grant of US$8.2 million from the European Union (EU) to accompany this US$25-million loan, Mr. Wan informed.

Technical Coordinator of BIGEE, Lu’Shana Cheddesingh, noted that since its inception, the DBJ-BIGEE Innovation Grant Fund has supported 30 medium-sized firms to the tune of $400 million.

“In cohort one, we started with three, and they all did well with $14 million. We moved on to cohort two with eight projects. In cohort three, we did 11 projects and today we have another eight projects,” Ms. Cheddesingh noted.

She praised the diversity and innovation demonstrated by this year’s cohort of grant companies.

“You all bring something unique to the table, reflecting climate resilience, gender inclusiveness and, most importantly, strategic innovation. This variety truly exemplifies the forward-thinking spirit that Jamaica needs to thrive in an ever-evolving global landscape,” Ms. Cheddesingh said.

Underscoring the importance of innovation in driving economic growth and competitiveness, Chief of Operations at IDB, Lorenzo Escondeur, noted that “innovation is about creating jobs, improving the standard of living and ensuring that Jamaica remains competitive on the global stage”.

“Through innovation, we will increase productivity, reduce dependency on imported technologies and create homegrown solutions to our most critical challenge,” he added.

CEO of Adtelligent, Craig Powe, who is a two-time beneficiary of grant support from the DBJ, highlighted the transformative impact of the assistance on his business.

“Six years ago, I was part of one of the first IDB IGNITE (Innovation Grant from New Ideas to Entrepreneurship) programmes and I got a grant of $4 million. At that time, my revenue was $20 million and now I’m doing $90 million. Eighty per cent of people at Adtelligent earn over US$1,000 a month now. Before, the average monthly salary was $80,000,” shared Mr. Powe.

He expressed gratitude for the initial $4 million he received from DBJ.

“That grant allowed me to take off the capital expense of those equipment and gave me some breathing room, so for $20 million, I’m definitely going to change the game,” he said.

BIGEE aims to promote innovation and productivity among established micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with high growth potential, to promote sustainable and disruptive growth in scalable startups, and to create sustainable pipeline of high-growth startups and a strong supporting ecosystem for entrepreneurship.

GoodHeart| Students’ creativity shines at Reggae Sumfest’s Upcycling Art Competition

Treya Picking — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 12:39:34 +0000

Since 2019, Reggae Sumfest has focused on climate-change and sustainability. This year, it launched the Jamaica Green Scholars Upcycling Art Competition with H&L Agro, Recycling Partners of Jamaica, and Esirom, following a beach cleanup to raise sustainability awareness among youths.

In its inaugural year, schools in western Jamaica were invited to create products from waste materials. The top four schools—Barrack’s Road Primary, Flanker’s Primary, St James Preparatory, and Heinz Simonitsch School—showcased their creations at the Esirom’s sustainability corner at Reggae Sumfest’s Family Fun Day. Visitors voted for their favourite project, and a panel from H&L Agro, Recycling Partners of Jamaica, Esirom, and Reggae Sumfest judged the designs based on provided criteria.

The entries included a chandelier that converts into two bedside lamps (St James Preparatory); a chair and lamp (Barrack’s Road Primary); a lamp, dress, mat, and hassock (Flanker’s Primary); and an irrigation system (Heinz Simonitsch School), all made from plastic bottles, cups, and other waste materials.

Khalia Hall, Esirom’s sustainability manager, emphasised the importance of creating durable and impactful products.

“There were a lot of categories including creativity and longevity, which was a big one for us judges because we didn’t want the students to just make something and throw it away after. We wanted it to be long-lasting. There was also a category of environmental impact and the use of various materials,” she said.

Heinz Simonitsch School won first place with their irrigation system. Barrack’s Road Primary took second with a chair made from Chubby bottles. Flanker’s Primary, with a dress and hassock, secured third. St James Preparatory’s chandelier earned fourth place.

Aron Gallimore, a student at Heinz Simonitsch, expressed excitement over their win, noting that sustainability is a key goal on their school’s vision board.

“This was our first time competing and we really tried to do our best. The irrigation system is a huge part of what we want to do, the foundation basically, and a precursor to the hydroponics system that we’re going to be creating at the school in September,” he said. “Our motto at the school is ‘changing average into amazing’, and we have students every day just stepping up and raising the bar.”

Barrack’s Road Primary focused on durability with their runner-up project. “We used Chubby bottles and binding wires to hold them together. When we were thinking about this project and sustainability, we thought whatever we created should be durable and protect the environment,” said Carlene Lumley, a teacher at the school.

The winning school received a personalized DIY green garden kit. All four schools also received prizes from KFC, Urban Development Corporation, Sunshine Snacks, Hospiten, Grace, and Pepsi.

Leeann Dunkley, Reggae Sumfest’s sustainability coordinator, praised the creativity and commitment of the participating schools, noting that the competition is a testament to the importance of engaging our youths in sustainability efforts.

Reggae Sumfest’s annual beach cleanup collects over 2,500 pounds of waste

Treya Picking — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 17:16:20 +0000

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica — Demonstrating remarkable community spirit and environmental dedication, Reggae Sumfest’s annual beach cleanup on June 15th resulted in the removal of over 2,500 pounds of waste from Catherine Hall and Fisherman’s beaches in Montego Bay, St James.

Now in its fourth staging, this coastal cleanup has become a vital component of the festival’s lead-up activities. Various stakeholders and sponsors joined forces to support Sumfest organisers in their unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability.

The cleanup effort successfully collected 1,475 pounds of plastic and over 1,100 pounds of other waste, including tyres, old clothes, and furniture, from both the beach line and the ocean beds.

Leeann Dunkley, coordinator of sustainability at Downsound Entertainment/Reggae Sumfest, is ecstatic the cleanup was able to be executed in the magnitude that it was as it highlights the crucial need for environmental efforts. She emphasised the importance of expanding their efforts, noting that adding another beach to this year’s cleanup highlights the team’s dedication to growth.

“Each year, our beach cleanup initiative grows in scope and impact, reinforcing our commitment to environmental sustainability and community involvement. Seeing the collective effort and the tangible difference we make is incredibly rewarding. This year’s addition of another beach to our cleanup efforts shows our dedication to continuous growth and our unwavering resolve to protect Jamaica’s beautiful coastline and our environment. Together, we’re making a significant impact and fostering a culture of environmental stewardship,” Dunkley stated.

Marcus Richards, managing director of the Hardware and Lumber Group (H&L), expressed pride in the project’s achievements over the years.

Marcus Richards, managing director of the Hardware and Lumber Group (H&L) with his team during Saturday’s beach cleanup excercise. (Photo: Contributed)

“This is a top-quality, feel-good event. The number of volunteers has grown significantly, and so has the amount of garbage collected. Joe (Bogdanovich) and the team should be exceptionally proud of what they’ve started and built,” he said.

Richards also highlighted the project’s status as a highly anticipated community event and praised its community-centred approach.

“So many people look forward to this clean-up each year as one of the official community kick-off events. One of the things that I take my hat off to Joe and the team for is that Sumfest is really a community-centred activity. Everything they do ploughs back into the community,” Richards added.

He further revealed plans to extend sustainability efforts to schools to create green spaces and support the development of young Jamaicans. “When it comes to corporate social responsibility, we focus on education, health care, and the environment. It’s important to engage youngsters early, and this year’s cleanup saw a great turnout of children.”

Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay, Dwight Crawford, commended the Sumfest organisers, underscoring the importance of educating future generations on environmental stewardship. “As the councillor for the area, this project is very dear to me. The support and growth over the years have been tremendous, and it’s heartening to see the community come together for such a vital cause,” he said.

Kimesha Campbell-Douglas, marketing officer at Recycling Partners of Jamaica (RPJ), praised the initiative’s impact. She noted the significant amount of plastic waste collected and emphasised the importance of public awareness in changing behaviours.

“Today, we collected 1,475 pounds of plastics alone. The impact of this project is far-reaching, and we are seeing positive changes in recycling behaviours. The numbers truly motivate us at RPJ to help in any way we can to get people to understand what this is actually doing to our environment,” she said.

Alex Morrissey, Director at Esirom, expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with Reggae Sumfest on their sustainability mission. “Reggae Sumfest is deeply committed to sustainability, and that’s reflected in their efforts beyond the music festival. Today, we pulled fabric, strollers, and even a table from the ocean bed—items that should never be in our waters. It’s heartbreaking, but it motivates us to continue our work,” he said.

Morrissey, who received a special honour during the event, appreciated the recognition but emphasised that their efforts are driven by a desire to inspire others.

“We don’t do it for the recognition; we do it because it’s needed. We hope to inspire other businesses and Jamaicans to make an impact. You don’t need to be a multi-million-dollar company to make a difference,” he concluded.

This year’s cleanup was supported by sponsors and partners including Chesters Chicken, Sunshine Snacks, Wisynco, UDC, Magnum, Pepsi, Zoetry, Recycling Partners of Jamaica, Hardware and Lumber, Esirom, Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gentle Care Ambulance Service, Grand Palladium, HEART Trust, Hospiten, Jill Stewart Montego Bay City Run, Project Star, Touchstone Ticketing, VIP Attractions, Maggi, Tortuga and Wisynco.