Here – in the “garden of the TCI” – locals joke that the soil is so fertile a man can grow another two feet just by standing in it.

http://tcweeklynews.com/the-cream-of-the-crop

Grace Bay Realty, a real estate company serving the Turks & Caicos Islands and a Christie’s Great Estates affiliate, has, as of this morning, granted seed capital totaling $10,000 to two local entrepreneurs as part of their vision to assist self-sufficiency within the Islands, as announced today by Lyle Schmidek, Managing Director.

The two entrepreneurially minded individuals, Mr. Emmanuel Missick and Ms. Kacy Dee Higgs, both from North Caicos, were the only two that submitted business plans to qualify for a grant from Grace Bay Realty’s TCI Self-Sufficiency Project which was launched in December 2009. Both applicants were approved by a panel consisting of a senior representatives of First Caribbean, Royal Bank, Scotiabank, Saunders & Co. and Grace Bay Realty.

In an effort to promote entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency, one requirement of the grant is that the successful recipients must pledge to repay the $5,000.00 to the project’s Regeneration Fund, which will be used to fund future grants. After the second year successful recipients should make a second $5,000 contribution to the project’s Regeneration Fund to finance yet another grant. This process will allow the original investment to self generate future capital injections into the fund and expand well beyond its original scope.

In December Grace Bay Realty donated $5,000 to the Turks & Caicos Farmers’ & Community Association to assist them in getting setup and united. A BIG THANKS goes out to Larry Caroe from Saunders & Co. for their legal services towards this effort.

We would also like to extend an EXTRA SPECIAL THANK YOU to Jeff Lee of Lee and Astwood Architects for architectural and engineering services and Patrick Hayward, Benchmark Survey Associates for surveying services. Both firms have given their time and resources towards continuing our efforts to make a Farming & Sustainability Market for the Turks & Caicos Islands community a reality. The market when finished will provide an excellent venue for local vendors to offer the public products and services that support sustainable living here in the islands.

The Market will also be a learning hub to teach all residents about sustainable living and ecological practices, including the growing of organic gardens, permaculture, alternative energy and other related self-sufficiency practices.

Anyone interested in getting involved with Grace Bay Realty’s efforts in helping to develop or promote sustainable living in the Turks & Caicos Islands community should contact our Public Relations Coordinator, Beth Atkins, at 649-232-5277 or e-mail her at Beth@GraceBayRealty.com

An initial $5,000 will be donated to help the Turks & Caicos Farmers & Community Association in getting their products and services to a larger number of consumers more cost effectively and to start the process of building a Farmers’ Market on Providenciales.

The remaining $20,000, along with contributions from others in the community will be granted in increments of $5,000 as a capital injection to qualifying entrepreneurially minded individuals and groups that submit a business plan by the 30th of January, 2010. All applicants should address their business plans in confidence to TCI Self-Sufficiency Project, c/o Grace Bay Realty, located on Grace Bay Road in the Regent Village.

Successful applicants will be determined by a panel consisting of a senior representatives of the TCI Agricultural Dept., T & C Farmers & Community Assoc., First Caribbean, Royal Bank, Scotiabank, Saunders & Co. and Grace Bay Realty.

In an effort to promote entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency, one requirement of the program is that the recipients of the grant must pledge to repay the $5,000 to the Project’s Regeneration Fund after their first year in business so that others can participate. After the second year of business the fund asks recipient businesses to make a second $5,000 pledge to further the ‘paying forward’ of new start-ups. Lyle Schmidek hopes that in five years this process would mushroom into a million dollars in grants, or more…

Mr. Schmidek advises that Grace Bay Realty has started to ask the whole community to join in with them and so far everyone approached has been very supportive. The law firm of Saunders & Co. was the first to pledge its support through the use of a prime 1.2 acre parcel of land on Leeward Highway and adjacent to IGA to construct a Farmers’ Market along with an additional $5,000.00 and legal support in establishing the Turks & Caicos Farmers & Community Association and for devising terms for grants and repayments.

Architectural services have been pledged by Lee and Astwood Architects who will coordinate all architectural and engineering services, says Mr. Schmidek and they are now finding individuals and companies to join them with building materials and labour to build the Farmers’ Market. Mr. Schmidek also notes “The market will give local vendors a low-cost and effective venue to offer their produce or other products to a large number and wide range of consumers from all over Provo and throughout the Islands as most residents converge at the Leeward Highway IGA with shopping money in their pockets at least once a week.”

Up to this release the following individuals and companies have pledged the following which we are very grateful. Please follow local media for updates to this list.

Beth Atkins, Public Relations/Luxury Real Estate Specialist, Grace Bay Realty – Recipient support

Bonnie Voynovich, Country Head, Royal Bank of Canada – application review panel

Courtney Missisk, Farmer/Entrepreneur, North Caicos – Education, training & application review panel

Darik Riggs, Marketing Coordinator, Grace Bay Realty – Marketing/website development assistance

Donald Elvey, Agricultural Director, Government Farm – Education, training & application review panel

Dexter Williams, Specialty Services – Entertainment/light & sound infrastructure

Doug Cochrane, Country Head, Scotiabank (Turks and Caicos) Ltd.- Application review panel

Dr. Frederick & Mary Glover, T1 Business Centers – Development funding

Jeff Lee, Lee and Astwood Architects – Architectural and engineering services

Katherine Baryluk , Private Island Sales, Grace Bay Realty – Recipient Support

Larry Caroe, Saunders & Co. – Legal Services and Association Set up

Norman Saunders Jr., Saunders & Co. – Land use, legal services & application review panel

Patrick Hayward, Benchmark Survey Associates – Surveying services

Peter Stingl, Luxury Real Estate Specialist, Grace Bay Realty – Recipient support

Robert Greenwood, Luxury Real Estate Specialist, Grace Bay Realty – Recipient support

Sherma Hercules, Country Head, First Caribbean International Bank – Application review panel

Stefan Kral, CEO, Salt Cay Devco Ltd. – Educational Funding

Woody Bonrud, Luxury Real Estate Specialist, Grace Bay Realty – Recipient support

Secondary funding has already been secured that will fund training at the new Farmer’s Market location for all communities interested in learning about sustainable living, including the growing of organic gardens, permaculture, alternative energy and other related self-sufficiency practices.

Anyone interested in pledging their support in this exciting community project should call the Project’s Public Relations Coordinator, Beth Atkins, at 649-232-5277 or e-mail her at Beth@GraceBayRealty.com

Business Plans may be dropped off at Grace Bay Realty located at 105 Regent Village, Providenciales or e-mailed to: Lyle@GraceBayRealty.com or faxed to 649-941-4106. On island telephone number is 649-941-4105 and US is 602-324-9400.