Twelve emerging entrepreneurs are being encouraged to keep focusing on creating sustainable businesses.

This is the advice from Administrator of the Division of Community Development, Enterprise Development and Labour Cherryl-Ann Solomon. She was speaking yesterday (July 12) as the entrepreneurs received grant support from the Business Development Unit (BDU), which falls under the Community Development Division.

Solomon applauded the recipients for recognising their need for growth, which she said is the reason they applied for the grants.

The Administrator is also advising entrepreneurs not to wait until they are overwhelmed to seek assistance. She said the participants should pay attention to their livelihood instead of detractors, and encouraged the entrepreneurs to keep promoting their businesses.

BDU manager Shelly-Ann Baptiste is also in support of this advice.

She described the Community Development Division as a “one-stop shop” that is there to assist Tobagonians.

Baptiste said this is also why the Division offers vocational skills training. She added that the vocational skills training programme gives residents the opportunity to learn an extra skill that may be beneficial to them, as well as to society.