USAID Zrda to Launch Small Grants Program in the Akhmeta Municipality
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 5, 2018 For additional information: Keti Rekhviashvili, Communications Manager Phone: 032 222 74 95 Email: [email protected] USAID Zrda to Launch Small Grants Program in the Akhmeta Municipality Akhmeta, Kakheti region - On February 5, 2018, USAID/Georgia Economic Growth Office Director Veronica Lee joined Akhmeta Municipality Head Ioseb Karumashvili, to meet with local communities and launch a Small Grants Program, initiated by USAID’s Zrda Activity. The Small Grants program is designed for nine target communities of the Akhmeta municipality (city Akhmeta, Kvemo Alvani, Zemo Alvani, Matani, Sakobiano, Duisi, Jokolo, Khalatsani and Omalo) to support business development through small grants assistance to micro and small enterprises. Within the Program, Zrda plans to award up to 60 grants for agriculture and tourism development activities in target communities. At least 35% of total project value is requested as a leverage from an entrepreneur. The Small Grants Program will build upon and diversify Zrda’s ongoing activities in the communities of the Akhmeta municipality. Through its agriculture interventions, Zrda established five 100-sq. m. greenhouse demonstration plots for seedling- and vegetable production, and today local farmers have an access to agriculture development programs offered by the government and international organizations. In tourism sector, Zrda supported guesthouse owners to boost their incomes through improving their marketing skills and helping them join well-known, international web-based booking sites (Booking.com,). In addition, last year Zrda through its Pankisi Small Grants Program funded 10 local micro businesses targeting tourism and service industry development of the region. About USAID Zrda Activity in Georgia: The USAID Zrda activity in Georgia is a five-year program designed to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth in target regions by improving Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) growth, increasing productivity of rural households, facilitating market linkages between producers and buyers, and promoting local economic development by establishing and strengthening networks. As a result, Zrda will create jobs and increase sales for MSMEs and incomes for households, bolstering the resilience and livelihoods of the target communities. Zrda will target communities in proximity to the administrative boundary lines and communities with ethnic minority populations. For additional information, please, visit: www.zrda.ge; https://www.facebook.com/zrda.ge and www.zrda.ge About USAID in Georgia: Over the past 25 years, the American People, through USAID, have invested more than $1.5 billion in Georgia. USAID projects are designed to support Georgia’s transition to a free and prosperous democracy and include initiatives to accelerate economic growth, develop democratic institutions, and improve health and education. USAID provides economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries. For more information, please visit: https://www.usaid.gov/georgia 6a N. Ramishvili str, 0179 Tbilisi, Georgia +995 32 222 74 59; +995 32 222 74 95 საქართველო, თბილისი 0179, ნ. რამიშვილის ქ. 6ა, www.zrda.ge; [email protected] .