In the cool, cool parish of Manchester, business is ripening. Often associated with red dirt and retirees, this parish is quietly harvesting entrepreneurial ventures in agriculture, agro-processing, and natural product development. And powering this charge is the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) with a bevy of business development services ‘From Concept to Market’.
In March 2025, the JBDC planted a new seed – the Digital Transitioning Centre at 39 Ward Avenue, Stone Surreal Plaza in Mandeville. The Centre is a catalyst, providing handholding services, digital training, and strategic support for entrepreneurs not just in Manchester, but also Clarendon and St. Elizabeth.
These three parishes have long been the breadbasket of Jamaica, known for their production of fruits, vegetables, and tubers. Today, that same farming foundation is evolving into opportunities for agro-processing, wellness products, and even eco-tourism. But while the raw potential is rich, the reality is that many entrepreneurs still lack structure.
“Most of the entrepreneurs I work with are operating manually,” says Shauna Lowe, the Centre’s Business Development Officer (BDO). “No records, no systems, no real business strategy. That’s where we come in.”
The Digital Transitioning Centre, just one of the 3 on the island, provides digital transitioning support services to MSMEs. Birthed from the European Union (EU)-sponsored Digital Jamaica Project, the Centres are designed to move entrepreneurs into the digital age by facilitating development in the areas of digitisation, digitalisation, and digital transformation.
Shauna is no stranger to the terrain. As a daughter of the soil, Lowe was educated at the Hampton School in St. Elizabeth and the Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in Manchester where she majored in Business Administration with an Accounts emphasis.
She spent childhood summers in Park, a rural farming district just outside Santa Cruz, St. Elizabeth. Her grandparents were large-scale farmers. “We’d pick tomatoes, eat what we planted, and just enjoy the rhythm of farm life,” she recalls.
That foundation planted the seeds for a lifelong interest in agriculture and entrepreneurship. After studying agriculture in high school, she later ran her own online teaching business before joining JBDC. Now, she blends both passions to help other business owners thrive. Her efforts are already bearing fruit. One standout story?
A returning resident from the United States who is an older woman with no formal business training but a heart full of ideas. “We built an action plan together. She used her savings, no loans, and got to work. Today she’s registered, operational, and thriving,” says Shauna. “That kind of grit and optimism – that’s what drives me.”
The entrepreneurial spirit across the region is undeniable, from castor oil producers to natural soap makers and health-based brands. But Shauna insists that funding alone isn’t the answer.
“People come in asking for money, but what they really need is business acumen. If we can build their mindset and skillset, the impact will last much longer than any grant.”
She’s also a strong advocate for hands-on, community-based outreach, especially in Clarendon, where she sees high potential but limited access to training and practical knowledge.
“It’s not just about getting online. In some of these communities, we need to go to them, set up in-person workshops, mobile training units, whatever it takes.”
What keeps her going? “Excellence. But not just for me, for them. I want to be known as someone who genuinely cares, who helps people level up and realise that success isn’t just for a chosen few.”
Entrepreneurs across Manchester, Clarendon, and St. Elizabeth can access services at the Mandeville Business Centre, whether for general consultation, financial literacy, digital upskilling, or to simply talk through a business idea.
Walk-ins are welcome, or appointments can be made through the JBDC website visit www.jbdc.net or by calling the Mandeville office directly at 876-625-3406.
