The Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) has added Kingston Creative to its network of Small Business Development Centres (SBDCs), expanding access to structured business-development services for entrepreneurs across Jamaica’s creative industries.
The partnership was formalised during the signing of an agreement at the JBDC’s Head Office on July 28, 2026. It builds on the organisations’ existing relationship and will provide creative entrepreneurs with standardised business support, capacity-building and other development services.
Speaking at the signing, JBDC Acting Chief Executive Officer Harold Davis said strengthening creative entrepreneurs could generate wider economic benefits for Jamaica.
“We believe when we strengthen our creative industry entrepreneurs where there’s a direct line in strengthening Jamaica’s economy, strengthening Jamaica’s global appeal, and if we allow our creative industries the support that this structure will provide, then there’s no limit to the impact that our creative industry entrepreneurs can find. And the truth be told is that Kingston Creative has done a lot of work in this space with clients that are in various areas of the creative industries and we are very impressed with the work that you have done.”
From Left – Moments before the signing, Acting CEO, Harold Davis chatted with Kingston Creative’s Executive Director, Andrea Dempster-Chung.
Following the signing, the JBDC and Kingston Creative teams share lens. From Centre – Acting Chief Executive Officer of the JBDC, Harold Davis and Executive Director of Kingston Creative, Andrea Dempster – Chung. (L-R) From the JBDC: Wendy Palma-Beckford, Senior Project Officer of JBDC’s SBDC Network & Melissa Barrett, Manager of the Business Advisory Services (BAS). From Kingston Creative: Bianca Welds, Head of Projects & Partnerships, Richard Hartley, Head of Operations
L-R: Backed by a team who is ready to serve the CCIs, Harold Davis, JBDC’s Acting CEO and Kingston Creative’s Executive Director, Andrea Dempster-Chung are all smiles as they sign the Co-operation Agreement. Looking on are Melissa Barrett, Manager of the JBDC’s Business Advisory Services (BAS); Wendy Palma-Beckford, Senior Project Officer of JBDC’s SBDC Network, as well as Bianca Welds, Head of Projects & Partnerships, Richard Hartley, Head of Operations from Kingston Creative.
Davis explained that entrepreneurs accessing Kingston Creative’s SBDC would receive the same standard of service available throughout the wider network.
“So, the same quality, same outcome, same hand-holding services that you, whenever, whichever SBDC you walk into, you get the same service and same support infrastructure…We believe that the creative industries create a unique competitive advantage for us Jamaicans.”
Kingston Creative Executive Director, Andrea Dempster-Chung said the partnership would allow the organisation to strengthen the capacity of 60 creative entrepreneurs over the next eight months.
“This will allow us in the next eight months to be able to, you know, upscale and capacity build with 60 creative entrepreneurs. And that’s an amazing target. We’re just very excited that, you know, people from fashion, film, music, all the different industries, literature and publishing, will have the benefits of this structure that JBDC has put in place.”
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