Grace Bay Realty Continues Support of Self-Sufficiency for the Turks & Caicos Islands

Feb. 25, 2010 - PRLog -- Grace Bay Realty Continues Support of Self-Sufficiency for the Turks & Caicos Islands

Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands – Feb 24th, 2010

Grace Bay Realty, a real estate company serving the Turks & Caicos Islands and a Christie’s Great Estates affiliate, has, as of this morning, granted seed capital totaling $10,000 to two local entrepreneurs as part of their vision to assist self-sufficiency within the Islands, as announced today by Lyle Schmidek, Managing Director.

The two entrepreneurially minded individuals, Mr. Emmanuel Missick and Ms. Kacy Dee Higgs, both from North Caicos, were the only two that submitted business plans to qualify for a grant from Grace Bay Realty’s TCI Self-Sufficiency Project which was launched in December 2009.  Both applicants were approved by a panel consisting of a senior representative of First Caribbean, Royal Bank, Scotiabank, Saunders & Co. and Grace Bay Realty.

In an effort to promote entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency, one requirement of the grant is that the successful recipients must pledge to repay the $5,000.00 to the project’s Regeneration Fund, which will be used to fund future grants. After the second year successful recipients should make a second $5,000 contribution to the project’s Regeneration Fund to finance yet another grant.  This process will allow the original investment to self generate future capital injections into the fund and expand well beyond its original scope.

In December Grace Bay Realty donated $5,000 to the Turks & Caicos Farmers’ & Community Association to assist them in getting setup and united. A BIG THANKS goes out to Larry Caroe from Saunders & Co. for their legal services towards this effort.

We would also like to extend an EXTRA SPECIAL THANK YOU to Jeff Lee of Lee and Astwood Architects for architectural and engineering services and Patrick Hayward, Benchmark Survey Associates for surveying services.  Both firms have given their time and resources towards continuing our efforts to make a Farming & Sustainability Market for the Turks & Caicos Islands community a reality. The market when finished will provide an excellent venue for local vendors to offer the public products and services that support sustainable living here in the islands.

The Market will also be a learning hub to teach all residents about sustainable living and ecological practices, including the growing of organic gardens, permaculture, alternative energy and other related self-sufficiency practices.

Anyone interested in getting involved with Grace Bay Realty's efforts in helping to develop or promote sustainable living in the Turks & Caicos Islands community should contact our Public Relations Coordinator, Beth Atkins, at 649-232-5277 or e-mail her at Beth@GraceBayRealty.com

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Grace Bay Realty the Christie's Great Estates affiliate for the Turks & Caicos Islands specializes in luxury real estate throughout the islands.

Grace Bay Realty is a leader in the Turks & Caicos Islands in representing luxury homes, land, condos and island retreats and offers interactive resources to buyer and sellers.