The VIEDA Insider

The monthly newsletter

of the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority

Volume 1 | Issue No. 3 August 2022

VIEDA participated in the St. Thomas/St. John Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event hosted by the Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center

VIEDA was joined by 25+ local vendors showcasing their products and services to the community, including business owners, non-profits, and community leaders at the St. Thomas/St. John Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours event hosted by the Virgin Islands Small Business Development Center held on August 11, 2022 at the VI SBDC Training Facility on St. Thomas.

Read press release here.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

STT/STJ Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours hosted by VISBDC
Lead Generation Program
VIEDA Client Highlight
On the Horizon
Resources for Small Businesses

Diversifying the Economy | Lead Generation Program

Mervyn Constantine (Left), Marine Manager at the Virgin Islands Port Authority gives a tour of the container port scheduled to be completed January 2023 located in St. Croix, USVI. Photo by: Shanell Petersen, Managing Director, Marketing and Vision 2040

Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) during Site Visit in the South Shore Trade Zone

Through coordinated efforts, the VIEDA Marketing/Vision 2040 team partnered with VIPA to conduct a tour of the container port and adjacent site within the area for construction of an assembly plant for a potential investor in the South Shore Trade Zone located in St. Croix, USVI. The Atlanta, Georgia-based company has plans to utilize the tax incentives to expand their business into the territory to meet the growing demand in the mainland USA.

Solar farm (file photo)

Energy Office meets with Solar Plant Manufacturer with Talks of Relocating

In partnership with the Virgin Islands Energy Office (EO), the VIEDA Marketing/Vision 2040 team coordinated a virtual meeting with Director Kyle Fleming at the Energy Office with an international company with interest in expanding their business to include a manufacturing plant of solar panels and other renewable energy projects. Director Fleming discussed the renewable energy needs of the territory as well as the current efforts of the VI Water and Port Authority as he sits as Chairman.

Community Focus

Economic Development Commission (EDC): Client Highlight

Meet Malik Bowry, Plant Manager, at United Electronic Industries Services, LLC (UEIS) located in Subbase, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Malik was born and raised in St. Thomas and a proud product of the public school system graduating from Charlotte Amalie High School (CAHS). Malik continued his higher education at the University of the Virgin Islands on the St. Croix campus. After a successful career at the former refinery, upon its closing Malik lost his job and moved to Canada where he worked for 8 years of his 20+ refinery career. Upon returning to the territory at the anticipated reopening of the refinery, Malik instead found a job vacancy at UEIS, through a local newspaper ad, a VI Economic Development Commission Beneficiary.

At UEIS, Malik is most proud of the outreach that has been extended to the youth in the community, including the CAHS electrical class and Rotary students. Malik notably mentioned great pride in sourcing products and services from local vendors listed on the Eligible Suppliers program through the EDC. Malik lives by the motto "Comfortable doesn't work," and inspires youth in the community to think outside of the box when looking for their career, especially with the opportunity in technology that exist right here in the territory.

Photo: Malik Bowry, Plant Manager, UEIS (Screenshot via Zoom during interview)

Economic Development Commission: Client Highlight

Meet Tahlia Frederick-Ottley, Customer Service Manager aka "Captain" at Twin City Island Spirits, Inc. d/b/a Sion Farm Distillery that exports Mutiny Island Vodka located in Sion Farm, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Tahlia was born in the British Virgin Islands and decided to expand her knowledge in 2019 and came to the St. Croix campus to attend the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI). She pursued a degree in Business/Hospitality Tourism and Management. While at UVI, Tahlia participated in an internship at Sion Farm Distillery and never left.

Tahlia started out as an intern as is now leading tours, overseeing floor staff, learning inventory, stocking, selling, and engaging in many other aspects of the business. Though she never expected to be at a distillery, Tahlia noted loving the financial freedom she has now acquired working at Sion Farm Distillery and is inspired every-day by the hard-working, yet fun owners, Chef Todd Manley and Shawn Henderson. "They treat the staff very well and I'm glad I was able to fall in love with this place through the UVI program," said Tahlia Frederick-Ottley, Customer Service Manager, Sion Farm Distillery.

Photo: Tahlia Frederick-Ottley, Customer Service Manager, Sion Farm Distillery, checking on guests at Sion Farm Distillery enjoying lunch. (Photo by Shanell Petersen, Managing Director, Marketing and Vision 2040)

On the Horizon and Resources for Local Small Businesses

VIEDA Board and Staff to attend the International Economic Development Council 2022 Annual Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma from September 18-21, 2022.

LEARN MORE

Bordeaux Farmers Initiative through the Economic Development Bank kicks off in September to assist the agricultural industry in St. Thomas with one-on-one meetings and in-person forums to provide financial assistance.

LEARN MORE

MBDA Small and Minority Business USVI Tech Assistance Workshops and One-on-One Meetings.

St. Croix: Wednesday, September 7th from 9am-4pm.

St. Thomas: Friday, September 9th from 9am-4pm.

USVI Path to Prosperity

UVI Great Hall (St. Croix) - Friday, September 23, 2022

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) national partnership will be presenting.

About the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority: The Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority (VIEDA) is a semi-autonomous governmental instrumentality. It promotes economic growth, job creation, and wealth generation in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The VIEDA assumes, integrates and unifies the functions of these four entities: Economic Development Commission, Virgin Islands Economic Development Park Corporation, Economic Development Bank and the Enterprise Zone Commission. The VIEDA accomplishes its mission by attracting investors to the Territory to establish or relocate their business in the U.S. Virgin Islands. It also provides financial assistance for new and existing small to medium-sized businesses in the Territory and assists V.I. residents and business owners with rehabilitating their properties located in distressed areas that were once vibrant economic centers of activity in the Territory. Learn more about the VIEDA at www.usvieda.org or send an email to info@usvieda.org.

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