Trade and Industry Minister, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, has congratulated J Mac Industries Limited, Tobago’s first recipient of funding from the Grant Fund Facility (GFF).
Entrepreneurs, Mr. Edward Jones and Ms. Glewis Jones, Managing Directors of J Mac Industries Limited, received funding for their company’s business operations and export expansion. J Mac Industries Limited, located in a small ‘at-home’ factory in Orange Hill, Tobago, manufactures and distributes eco-friendly detergents and dishwashing liquids under the brand “SupporT.” The company took the decision to relocate to a larger facility and required funding to automate its processes to satisfy the increasing demand for its products. While the company currently distributes within Tobago, the expansion will facilitate increased production and distribution in Trinidad as well as exports to seven (7) CARICOM markets and eventual product diversification.
Minister Gopee-Scoon commended the company’s Directors for this strategic move and overall vision. The Minister elaborated stating that “Now more than ever, Trinidad and Tobago requires the innovative thinking and the foresight of the business community to secure this country’s present and future economic success.” J Mac Industries Limited has continued to demonstrate its viability as a manufacturing company as it was able to successfully represent Tobago and showcase its products in several shows including the 2019 Tobago Road Show, the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association’s 2019 Trade and Investment Convention, and the 2019 Expo Caribe Trade Show held in Santiago de Cuba.
The company’s growth trajectory is a direct product of the Directors’ business acumen, strategic vision and utilisation of Government’s business support programmes. J Mac Industries Limited has been able to capitalise on several Government programmes offered to the business community, including the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) Business Development Unit Loan Programme, funding from the Venture Capital Equity Fund Company Limited, and export training offered by ExporTT. Such programmes, including the recently expanded GFF, underscore the Government’s commitment to supporting and growing the business community. J Mac Industries Limited is the latest manufacturer to receive funding under the GFF.
The GFF offers up to a maximum of $250,000.00 to producers of export-oriented/import-substituting products. The Facility was expanded in August 2019 and now makes funding available for SMEs in eight (8) different sectors, including Financial services; Maritime services; Aviation services; Fishing and fish processing; Software design and applications; Creative Industries; Agriculture and Agro-processing; and Manufacturing. For further information on the Grant Fund Facility please visit: https://tradeind.gov.tt/application-approval-grant-funding/
