Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands – December 13, 2024 — A diverse group of attendees eager to learn about the various programs and services offered by the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority (VIEDA) that support neighborhood revitalization, community development, entrepreneurship, small business ownership, and non-profit organizations gathered and contributed to the success of the 2024 Enterprise Zone Commission (EZC) Open House on Wednesday, December 4, 2024 from 9AM to 2PM on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

With the theme, ‘Tis the Season to Get Involved!’, the VIEDA’s EZC team organized this open house to help encourage USVI residents to participate in serving their community by using VIEDA’s programs and services. The venue for the open house was E’s Garden Teahouse and Things, a client of VIEDA’s Economic Development Bank (EDB) and a stakeholder in the enterprise zone of Garden Street/Upstreet.

According to Nadine Marchena Kean, managing director, EZC, getting involved can help us all design the future of our economy and the USVI community. “Whether it is starting or growing an existing small business, joining or supporting a non-profit organization or revitalizing property within an enterprise zone, these are some of the ways many residents can be a part of solutions that can help the USVI thrive,” said Mrs. Marchena Kean.

At the open house, display tables for various VIEDA entities were filled with information, VIEDA literature, and free, useful promotional items as they aligned the inside of E’s Garden Teahouse and Things attracting attendees seeking information about the VIEDA.

Highlights of the 2024 EZC Open House included the following:

A General Information Session: VIEDA Chief Executive Officer Wayne L. Biggs, Jr., welcomed attendees, introduced VIEDA team members, and provided an overview on the VIEDA’s purpose and the resources and programs that are available through VIEDA.

Mr. Biggs, along with Mrs. Marchena Kean and Celina D. Morris, director, Marketing, also shared updates on the VIEDA’s upcoming, ongoing and completed initiatives along with insights on how the initiatives help spur economic development in the USVI and can help individuals and businesses get involved in their communities.

Mr. Biggs also highlighted the purpose of each of the following VIEDA entities: Economic Development Commission (EDC), which offers tax incentive programs for large and small businesses; the EZC, which administers programs offering tax credits and exemptions for neighborhood revitalization of designated blighted and distressed areas in the USVI; and the EDB, which has low-interest and loan guarantee programs for local small businesses.

Raheem Smith, Enterprise Zone Commission Specialist II (left), shares information about VIEDA and EZC with open house attendee Julian West of Titan Insurance at the EZC display table. –Photo by Semele A.C. George, VIEDA

One-on-One Discussions: VIEDA team members representing these entities met one-on-one with attendees interested in learning more about the features and benefits of the programs and services their entity offers along with each program’s application process and eligibility requirements.

Networking Opportunities: The EZC Open House was also a platform for attendees to network with VIEDA representatives, local business owners, and community leaders, to foster connections that could lead to future collaborations.

Success Stories: Local entrepreneurs and non-profit organization leaders shared inspiring testimonials – either through interviews or one-on-one conversations – about the positive impact of the VIEDA’s programs on their business or project or the U.S. Virgin Islands community.

A VIEDA Game Show: Nadine Marchena Kean, temporarily switched from EZC’s managing director to game show host for the Open House’s traditional game show. Participants who had most of the correct answers to the trivia questions about the VIEDA, the EZC Open House, and the U.S. Virgin Islands received prizes.

“It truly was a pleasure to see so many individuals from our community attend the open house to take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about the resources that are available through the VIEDA that can, and has, made a positive impact on the U.S. Virgin Islands,” added Mrs. Marchena Kean.

For more information about VIEDA’s programs and initiatives, please visit www.usvieda.org, or send an email to info@usvieda.org.

“The Bryan-Roach Administration is investing in the Territory’s people, infrastructure and future through transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government and ensuring that recovery projects are completed as quickly as possible. Visit http://transparency.vi.gov .”