Stay tuned for BTB’s Matching Grant Program for Tourism Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises! Official Launch Date Coming Soon!

Contact the Project Coordinating Unit at [email protected] or WhatsApp 67-GRANT (674-7268)

Want to know more about BTB’s Matching Grant Program for Tourism Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises? Find out if you are eligible to apply by completing an assessment form.

Contact the Project Coordinating Unit to schedule a quick assessment.

Email: [email protected]
Whatsapp: 67-GRANT (674-7268)

Official Launch: BTB Matching Grant Program for Tourism Small & Medium-Sized Enterprises

Tune in to learn more about the BTB Matching Grant Program for Tourism Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises!
MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 2022 AT 10 AM

https://www.facebook.com/events/305794611585285/

Opening ceremony of the BTB Matching Grants Program. Learn more about the program, benefits and requirements.



The Matching Grant Program primarily funded by the Inter-American Development Bank is designed to enable qualified Small & Medium Enterprises within the Tourism Industry access to funding from up to BZ$18,000 and $60,000.

Expressions of interest are now open and can be accessed here:
https://main.d25r866ce4i65s.amplifyapp.com/

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The Matching Grant Program officially launches today!

The Matching Grant Program has a minimum of BZ$18,000 and a maximum contribution of BZ$60,000. In case the applicant is a tourism association or group of enterprises (minimum four enterprises), the grants will be up to BZ$100,000.

The MGP will support projects by SMEs in the selected project categories:

- Bio-protocol implementation -Activities that can be included in a project to adapt the tourism business for Covid-19 preventative measures.

- Environmental-Activities that can be included in a project to enhance or preserve Belize’s natural capital or contribute to the mitigation or adaptation of the tourism sector ecosystem.

- Skills Development-Training and technical assistance projects aligned with the improvement of competitive capacity and resilience of the beneficiary enterprises.

- Technology Investment -Activities that can be included in this type of project which purpose is to boost technology investment and adoption in the tourism sector entrepreneurship and or workforce in Belize.

- Market intelligence and promotion strategies- Activities that could be included in this type of project which purpose is to invest in market intelligence and promotion strategies.

- Potential external economies of scale or scope externalities- Activities that could be included in this type of project which purpose is to create a certain and more efficient to reduce cost.

The MGP will support the following subsector: Accommodation, Food & Beverage, Adventure Tourism, Transportation, Travel Trade, Events & Conferences, Attractions, Tourism Services, Tourism Education & Training and Other Tourism Related Services.

SMEs who wish to express interest must complete and submit the required Expression of Interest Forms for assessment and eligibility. The deadline for this submission is February 21, 2022, at 4:00 p.m.

https://belizetourismboard.org/programs-events/matching-grant-program/

Contact the Project Coordinating Unit for more information!

Email: [email protected]
Whatsapp: 67-GRANT (674-7268)

Small Grants For Big Tourism Ideas

The tourism industry has been on a steady upward trend on the path of recovery after being devastated by the COVID Pandemic. Part of that recovery has been financed with the help of government support programs, and that's why the Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations announced the roll-out of its Matching Grant Program for the Tourism Industry's Small and Medium-sized Enterprises.

The Government officials say that the Briceno Administration's first Matching Grants Program saw a massive influx of applicants who could not benefit from the program, simply because there were not enough resources. So, with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank, the government has earmarked $2.4 Million Belize Dollars for this new MGP.

The project was officially unveiled today at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel, and 7News attended. Here's what a few of the keynote speakers had to say about how it will work:



So, how do you apply? That's what we asked the BTB's Josue Carballo, and here's what he had to say about the process of expressing interest to be considered:



The business enterprises which the Tourism Ministry hopes to help with this funding include Accommodation, Food & Beverage, Adventure Tourism, Transportation, Travel Trade, Events & Conferences, Attractions, Tourism Services, Tourism Education & Training, and Other Tourism Related Services.

Channel 7

Small and Medium Tourism Businesses Encouraged to Apply for Matching Grants

The Ministry of Tourism and Diaspora Relations has launched its Matching Grants Program for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. The program is being financed through a fifteen million U.S. dollar loan under the Sustainable Tourism Project Two launched back in March of 2016. News Five’s Paul Lopez was at the Biltmore this morning where the program was launched. He found out what you need to do if you are in tourism and looking for funds. 

Paul Lopez, Reporting

Ramiro Lopez Ghio, Country Representative, I.D.B.

“The pandemic hit the economy to a great extent, to the whole sector, but in particular to tourism. 2020 was a very bad year in terms of economic and social indicators. We have two digit unemployment and the poverty rate increased lots. This matching program that we are financing and providing technical assistance, we are trying to revert this condition of the economy.”

To qualify, your business must first fall under two of the four BELTRADE criteria for small business or medium enterprises.

Josue Carballo, Director of Industry Development, B.T.B.

“That is the first eligibility. Secondly, you must be ready at hand with a project proposal, which means you must have project that can spell out the total cost, and out of that cost the matching grant will finance sixty percent of the total of that project. The remaining forty percent, forty percent of that forty percent, sixteen percent will be in cash contribution. So, you must be able to contribute as part of your project. The remainder of the matching is in kind contribution which will include technical assistance, equipment, labor, the different ways in which you can match it.”

According to Director of Tourism at the B.T.B., applications are available on the B.T.B. website and must be submitted by February twenty-first.

Evan Tillett, Director of Tourism, B.T.B.

“The grant will aid in job creation and with its development objectives and improvements in such areas as bio protocols, the environment, skills development, technology, market intelligence, economies of scale, will undoubtedly increase the marketing edge of small and medium enterprises. We therefore encourage all small and medium enterprises to pursue this opportunity.”

In 2021, the Ministry of Tourism provided six hundred and fifty thousand dollars in relief to the tourism sector. These funds were issued to over four hundred micro and small enterprises. That program came to an end in December, but it revealed the need for further financing opportunities.

Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations

“The unfortunate reality is that we received more applications than we had available to disburse. This is a clear indication that the M.S.M.E. sector continues to have a high demand for support programs like this one, as it continues to find its footing after major market failures and bring itself back to a point of economic relevance. But, economic relevance in my mind is not enough. I maintain that if we seek only to recover what we have lost during the pandemic we would not have embraced the opportunity for improvement, growth and innovation that this economic shock has provided.”

The Ministry of Tourism intends to execute the approved projects within the next four months with the goal of assisting at least one hundred businesses.

Josue Carballo, Director of Industry Development, B.T.B.

“It is very important for you to be ready with the project proposal in hand, because these projects will need to be executed within the next four months going forward. It is an immediate grant that is available. And when Director mentioned the deadline for submission, this is the first phase. The eligibility for criteria process is you apply to be vetted to be assisted by the full team we have onboard at the B.T.B. They will go over your process. Ii you need to call, we have a WhatsApp number available on your website. You can get a one-on-one assistance. The idea is to be able to assist; the target is to assist around a one hundred M.S.M.E.’s with grants ranging from eighteen thousand up to sixty thousand for single based enterprises, and as much as a hundred thousand Belize when it comes to different enterprises with cooperatives working together.”

Channel 5

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On January 31, the Belize Tourism Board officially launched the Matching Grant Program for Tourism Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. The BZ$2.4 million project is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank. During his remarks, Minister Mahler, said “Micro Small and Medium Enterprises represent over 70% of our private sector employment and income in Belize and in tourism, they are the backbone of our service industry."

SMEs who wish to express interest must complete and submit the required Expression of Interest Forms for assessment and eligibility. The deadline for this submission is February 21, 2022, at 4:00 p.m. Visit BTB’s website or Facebook page for more information on the guidelines and eligibility for the Matching Grant Program.

The information session on the Belize Tourism Board's Matching Grant Program.

Expression of Interest are open for the Matching Grant Program for Tourism Small and Medium Sized Enterprises. The deadline to submit an Expression of Interest is February 21, 2022, at 4:00 p.m.

SMEs who wish to express interest must complete and submit the required Expression of Interest Forms for assessment of eligibility.

The Belize Tourism Board will be holding stake holders information meeting respectively on February 15th 2021 at Caye Caulker Island Magic Conference Center, and February 16th at the San Pedro Town Council Conference room.

For more information contact the Project Coordinating Unit for more information!

Email: [email protected]
Whatsapp: 67-GRANT (674-7268)





Learn more about the BTB's Matching Grant Project. Our Project Coordinating Unit will be making media appearances across the country to discuss the program with the general public and interested stakeholders. Take note of the schedule below and tune in!

Today the BTB held an information session regarding their Matching Grant Program at the San Pedro Town Council Conference Room with interested Stakeholders.

This program in an initiative by the BTB to provide financial incentive for Small and Medium Enterprises to support projects that generative positive effects and are beneficial for the Belizean Tourism Ecosystem Productivity and host communities.

Reminder:

The deadline to submit an Expression of Interest for the Matching Grants Program is February 21, 2022, at 4:00 p.m.

SMEs who wish to express interest must complete and submit the required Expression of Interest Forms for assessment of eligibility.

Contact the Project Coordinating Unit for more information!
Email: [email protected]
Whatsapp: 67-GRANT (674-7268)

Here’s a Step-by-Step guide of the Matching Grants Program Timeline.
Contact the Project Coordinating Unit for more information!

Email: [email protected]
Whatsapp: 67-GRANT (674-7268)