USVIEDA, EZC to Share Program Information to Assist Enterprise Zone Residents, Local Businesses; U.S. Virgin Islands Community

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands – April 20, 2018 – The U.S. Virgin Islands community, along with residents and business owners within the Territory’s enterprise zones, will have an opportunity to learn about federal and local economic development programs during an Open House on St. Thomas that can assist USVI residents and businesses.  This annual Open House will be held from 9AM to 2PM on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 during the 2018 Virgin Islands Cultural and Food Fair on St. Thomas.

Hosted by the Enterprise Zone Commission (EZC), this Open House will be held in Garden Street at E’s Garden Teahouse and Things in downtown Charlotte Amalie near the general area of the Alvaro deLugo Post Office and the entrance of Main Street on St.

Thomas.  E’s Garden Teahouse and Things is located at 2A Commandant Gade up from the stoplight on backstreet in the purple and green building next to the Midtown Guesthouse and  across from Ideal Restaurant.   The EZC is a subsidiary entity of the U.S. Virgin Islands Economic  Development Authority.

In addition to participating in fun, festive activities such as free USVI soup tastings and ongoing raffles to win giveaway prizes, attendees will learn about

• the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), made possible by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (U.S. SBA), for local small manufacturers that are interested in exporting locally-made products to foreign countries,
• programs that offer tax exemptions & tax credits to rehabilitate properties in enterprise zones, and
• other USVIEDA programs that offer businesses tax incentives, low-interest loans and affordable commercial spaces for lease at local industrial parks.                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Attendees will also be able to meet one-on-one with USVIEDA staff members to discuss various economic development programs offered by the USVIEDA.  Locally-made products from Virgin Islands small manufacturers will also be on sale

The event’s location, E’s Garden Teahouse and Things, is a local, small business that is established within the enterprise zone of Garden Street reflecting a significant relationship between community development and economic development in the Territory. E’s Garden Teahouse and Things is also a client of the Economic Development Bank, another entity of the USVIEDA offering programs with low-interest loans to finance local, small to medium-size businesses.

The EZC assists residents and local, small-business owners with rehabilitating and restoring areas that are designated as enterprise zones. Enterprise zones are locations in the Territory that are considered to be blighted and distressed neighborhoods that were once vibrant centers of economic activity.   The enterprise zones in the USVI are Garden Street-UpStreet and Savanne-Downstreet on St. Thomas and Frederiksted and Christiansted on St. Croix.

To learn more about the EZC Open House, contact Raheem Smith at 340-714-1700, ext. 253; or by email at rsmith@usvieda.org; or contact Nadine Marchena Kean at ext. 256.

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