This week, the Leveraging Effective Application of Direct Investment (LEAD) program, implemented by the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) and funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, launched the second round of its Business Plan Competition. The competition provides matching grants for business plans that are found to best support the development of small and medium enterprises and increases employment in Haiti.

These grants increase access to capital for small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurs, including diaspora investors and business people.

LEAD awards matching grants ranging between $50,000 to $200,000 to winners of the Business Plan Competition. Candidates can include either existing small and medium enterprises interested in expanding or start-ups with qualified personnel.

Each grantee is required to provide a matching investment at least equal to the amount of the grant and prospective? businesses must operate in the Cap-Haitien, Saint-Marc or Port-au-Prince areas.

Last year’s winners included SOGEPA (a cocoa producer), ECSSA (a recycling firm), Atelier Jourdain (a garment manufacturer) and CASTMI (a water production facility).

Applications are reviewed on a continuous basis until the grant funds are exhausted. The application form can be accessed at www.leadinvestmentshaiti.info

Questions can be submitted by email to leadbpc@padf.org.

HL/ HaitiLibre