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WHAT WE INTEND TO DO

PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS

We're All in This Together

Working to bring about economic recovery for Grand Bahama will require more than the efforts of GBPA. It will take a firm commitment from the government, business entities, and civic organizations to unite with us, in order to move this island's economy forward. We intend to encourage, promote and integrate the city's economic development efforts by identifying a common vision so that all efforts are cohesive, consistent, and strategic. We will consistently work with partners of economic development such as:

  • The Government of The Bahamas - to work together to promote a business-friendly ‘red carpet' environment. This includes the Office of the Prime Minister, Bahamas Labour & Immigration, The Ministry of Tourism, Bahamas Agricultural & Industrial Corporation, Bahamas Development Bank, and other government ministries. Also work with the Freeport City Council
    and other local government bodies to assist in the implementation of major programmes that affect the local community.
  • The Grand Bahama Development Company Limited - to make land available for major developments to ensure long term sustainability, and to make land affordable for Bahamians.
  • Hutchison Port Holdings Limited - to ensure sustained economic development, with our partners in the Grand Bahama Airport Company, Freeport Harbour Company, and Sea Air Business Centre.
  • Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce - to address the needs of the business community, in conjunction with the Chamber - the voice of the local business community.
  • The Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board - to work with the Board to continue promotion of the island as a tourism destination and improvement of the tourism product.
  • Grand Bahama Business Support Organization - to work with existing entities to provide persons seeking to operate or currently operating a small enterprise with valuable resources to make their business a success.
  • NGOs, Civic Organizations and Churches - to embrace our vision of ‘partnership' so that we can effectively bring about change to the social ills that plague our island. This is required to ensure that we maintain a thriving economy and healthy community.
  • Educational Facilities - to partner in many different ways to educate the local population and leverage the relationship in community building initiatives. This includes local schools, The College of the Bahamas, Bahamas Technical & Vocational Institute and Ross University.
  • Media - to help spread the Port's message of revitalization, new development and redevelopment of the City of Freeport and Grand Bahama Island.

These measures represent small steps in the ‘big picture' of enhancing our island. We must all play a role in revitalizing our island's economic sectors and redefining our community relations. Together we can accomplish great things for Grand Bahama Island, and by extension, The Bahamas!

MAKING IT HAPPEN

GBPA understands the importance of our relationship with the business community and the residents of Grand Bahama Island. We are committed to partnering with community leaders to assist in ensuring that the basic needs of our people are met, in order to foster an environment of wealth creation for all, and sustained economic activity for the island.

Downtown Revitalization

The Down Town Revitalization Program will be launched on 1st April 2009 as ‘Down Town Turn Around'. This revitalization project will make a major impact on the Town Centre, will breathe new life into this once popular native and tourist destination, and will occur in three phases. We intend to conduct a full scale clean-up of the area and introduce new landscaping, signage, benches, lighting and other esthetically pleasing features.

Community partnership in this programme has been phenomenal, and we have also partnered with the Grand Bahama Christian Council on the development of a Half-Way House in order to address the major issue of vagrancy in the town area.

Retail License Fee Discount

The world is experiencing hard economic times, and so is the Grand Bahama business community! Effective 1st March 2009, to assist retail licensees, we will introduce a reduction in license fees by 50% for early payments within 3 months after billing, until March 2010.

Scholarship Programme

We would like to assist our young Bahamians by offering full scholarships in niche careers that have an impact on our island's continuous growth and development. There needs to be more Bahamian participation in lucrative fields, such as land surveying.

We will encourage our young people to obtain the skill, contribute to our economy, and in turn, create wealth for themselves.
We will also award scholarships to the ‘top student' of each high school on Grand Bahama Island, who meets our scholarship criteria. We will encourage the students to spend the first two years at The College of the Bahamas.

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Small Business Development

It is fairly well established that small businesses are the engine of the local economy. We have joined forces with the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce, BAIC, The Bahamas Development Bank, The College of The Bahamas, and other entities to establish The Grand Bahama Business Support Organization.

Its facilities will become known as ‘The Enterprising Centre'. The mission of this organization is to provide persons seeking to operate or currently operating a small enterprise on Grand Bahama Island with a variety of resources to improve their prospects for successful, independent operation and to do so in conjunction with complimentary programs that exist in the community. We have committed to contributing to this organization on an annual basis.

Making land affordable

We understand the difficult economic times that the residents of Grand Bahama are faced with. We have always believed in providing opportunities for Bahamians to own land and have tried to make land affordable. Our plans include servicing land at reasonable prices.

It's time to address the needs of the market, and although there is still no comparison between the cost of property in Freeport and Nassau, we must remain committed to ensuring that land is affordable.

‘Build Now' Programme

Considering the economic times, we will offer a ‘Build Now' Programme that will allow qualified persons to build their dream homes right away.

This will stimulate development and the economy, and allow potential homeowners to occupy their homes before 7 years. Property owners will be allowed to use the equity in the property for mortgages, and the property will be paid for during construction draw downs.

Education Programme

We are committed to identifying buildings in populated subdivisions, where kids can walk or ride their bikes to seek homework assistance or participate in other learning programmes. We will partner with community leaders, churches and non-profit organizations to make a difference in the lives of our young people who require that extra care and attention.

We will make financial contributions to, and continuously enhance the programme to touch aspects of education that we can assist in improving.

Best New Tourism Product Award

We intend to work with sector partners to enhance our tourism product. GBPA will introduce a ‘Best New Tourism Product Award' program, focused on improving the tourism product. New and existing tourism-related businesses with innovative new products and services will be able to receive an award that will assist in improving their offerings.