St. Croix Chamber of Commerce

Growing St Croix's Economy Together

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Governor Bryan to Hold Third Community Business Forum

Free Two-Hour Online Session Will Focus on COVID Financial Relief and Business Advice for Local Small Businesses

Community Biz Forum May 2021

U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS — Governor Albert Bryan Jr. will hold the third session of the USVI Community Business Forum series focusing on connecting businesses to opportunities for financial relief provided through President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan and business advisory services available through local economic-related agencies.

Bouncing off the successes of Parts I and II, Part III of the USVI Community Business Forum series will be held virtually via Zoom from 9  to 11 a.m., on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. The forum will also be streamed live on the Government House Facebook page, Facebook.com/GovernmentHouseUSVI. Business owners and those interested in starting a business are encouraged to register for the forum by visiting www.vi.gov/cbf/.  For more information call 340-774-0001. The Community Business Forum is free.

The agenda includes presentations from the University of the Virgin Islands’ Business School, the VI Small Business Development Center, the US Small Business Administration, the VI Economic Development Authority and UVI’s Research and Technology Park.

“All of us know and have felt how adversely the pandemic has impacted our local businesses,” said David Bornn, Chief Legal Counsel for the Office of the Governor and facilitator for the Forum. “The American Rescue Plan provides significant and tangible support to help businesses regain their footing and to strive forward. It’s important that our business owners know and understand what is available to help them rebuild, and how to access it.”

The American Rescue Plan provides new funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) – originally introduced in the CARES Act – this time in the form of grants instead of loans. It also expands the PPP to include eligibility for more types of non-profits and introduces the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF). The RRF provides $28.6 billion in grants to restaurants and bars – among the hardest hit businesses in the pandemic – as well as to caterers, food trucks and companies that provide live performances.

The Business Forum will also provide information on the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) and the Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP) offered through the VI Housing Finance Authority. The ERAP helps individuals and families who have been financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic keep up on their rent and remain in their homes. The HAP assists homeowners behind on their mortgage and utility payments avoid foreclosure and eviction.

“The USVI Community Business Forum is working in tandem with our efforts to reach herd immunity and get to a new COVID normal,” Governor Bryan said. “This is essential because there is no option for fully reopening our Territory without our businesses being able to fully reopen their doors, particularly as we prepare for the return of cruise ships to both St. Thomas and St. Croix, possibly as early as this summer.”

“I encourage all businesses owners, landlords and homeowners to attend the forum, join the conversation and give their input,” he said.

The CBF series is an initiative of the Office of the Governor, the V.I. Economic Development Authority and the V.I. Department of Tourism to provide business owners with the tools and resources they need to adapt, innovate and embrace technology to rebuild the VI economy.

For more information about the USVI Community Business Forum, materials presented in previous sessions or to register, visit www.vi.gov/cbf.

The Bryan-Roach Administration is committed to transparency, stabilizing the economy, restoring trust in the government and ensuring the disaster recovery is completed as quickly as possible.

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CFVI Awards More than $410,000 to Support Humanities Programs and Activities in the Territory

Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands

Media Contact:
Sean Liphard
Communications Manager
seanl@cfvi.net
202.770.7535 cell

U.S. Virgin Islands, January 7, 2021 — The Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) has awarded $410,791 to 20 USVI nonprofit organizations and one individual with funding received from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH).    “These grants will support humanities programs throughout the USVI, reflecting the unique gifts of our Territory’s diverse communities and the importance of our culture, heritage, and its preservation. We are so thankful to NEH, and to CFVI’s nonprofit partners for their creativity and commitment to enriching the lives of all of us with these exciting humanities programs,” said CFVI President Dee Baecher-Brown.   The purpose of the NEH funding is to support humanities programs, projects, and initiatives such as festivals, literacy campaigns, speaker’s bureaus, teacher development, cultural tourism, humanities publications, films, exhibitions, and projects that preserve and provide access to cultural and educational resources in the USVI. Requests for proposals were announced by CFVI in June and August of 2020, and over 50 applications were submitted.    “Our goal is to bolster local humanities entities, as well as to enrich the lives of people throughout the Territory through humanities education, lifelong learning, and public humanities programming,” said CFVI’s Vice President and Director of Grants and Programs, Anna Wheatley Scarbriel.   Approximately half of the funding CFVI received from NEH came from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. As directed by NEH, CFVI awarded the CARES money to provide emergency project funding to USVI museums, libraries, archives, historic sites, and other nonprofits impacted by the pandemic. From the NEH CARES Act funding, CFVI awarded a total of $242,464 to 11 organizations, which support a wide variety of programs and initiatives:    

All Saints Cathedral School | Academic Enhancement and Maintaining Our Cultural Relevance | $20,000 – Funding supports K-12 students’ engagement in VI historical and cultural content. This project provides culturally relevant instruction in the Caribbean art forms of storytelling, bamboula and quadrille dance, and steel pan. A Caribbean festival is expected to be held in March (as public health concerns permit), at the end of VI History month, where the culmination of learning activities will be presented to the school and community.   

Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Thomas/St. John | 2020-2021 BGC St. Thomas/St. John Humanities Project | $20,000 – Funding supports children’s exploration of U.S. and Virgin Islands history, culture, and geography. This project will engage children in instruction and reflection on a range of humanities topics related to the world around them, including field trips, workshops, presentations, and activities.   

Caribbean Genealogy Library | Stories from our Elders – Creating a Virgin Islands Oral History Collection, Transcription and Cataloging Interviews | $3,800 – Funding supports an oral history project that will include existing elder interviews as part of an oral history collection to be catalogued and housed at CGL, to have the collection available and easily usable by researchers, and to later produce a documentary on island history using the interviews.   

Caribbean Genealogy Library | The St. Thomas Graphics Collection: Interpreting 25 years of the late 20th Century in the U.S. Virgin Islands, a digital snapshot | $19,250 – Funding supports digitization of a historic postcard collection. This project will make available a collection of government reports, political campaign materials, tourism industry brochures, funeral booklets, civic organization booklets, and VIP recognition booklets from a period between 1970 and 2000. Historians will be contracted to interpret the digitized materials and present workshops.   

Caribbean Genealogy Library | Images of Our Past, Michael and Jane Sheen Virgin Islands – Danish West Indies Historic Postcard Collection Digitization Project | $12,650 – Funding supports a collaborative digitization and cataloguing project. This project will digitize over 700 historic postcards from the U.S. Virgin Islands – Danish West Indies from around 1870 through the 1950s; provide a permanent digital collection of a unique photographic collection related to the islands’ history; and permit access to researchers, educators, students, and the community.   
Caribbean Genealogy Library | Teaching Virgin Islands History using Original Source Documents | $19,965 – Funding supports the availability of original source documents as teaching tools. This project will create an online modern teaching tool for teachers in the Virgin Islands (elementary through high school) related to VI history using original source documents such as archaeological artifacts, census records, plantation asset inventories, laws, church records, and audio recordings.  

Center for Educational Growth, Inc. | Transforming Literature Into Expressions Of Art | $20,000 Funding supports virtual after school enrichment programming by providing humanities-based virtual education, cultural activities, and lifelong learning opportunities for youth and families in the Virgin Islands.   

Good Hope Country Day School | Cultural and Diversity Education Plan | $20,000 – Funding supports a humanities-based resource library. This project will offer knowledge, skills and resources for students, faculty and staff in order to promote diversity and appreciation of various ethnic and racial groups through the study of humanities, including a year-long series of guest speakers to present history, literature, holidays, music, languages, food, art, and traditions of different cultures.   

My Brother’s Workshop | Furniture Caning Class and Open Workshop | $20,000 – Funding supports instruction of traditional/cultural caning methods. MBW will partner with the St. Thomas Historical Trust and contribute to the local economy by promoting the Virgin Islands’ as a historically significant destination through a caning project to help preserve the long tradition of caning.   

St. George Village Botanical Garden | Creation of an African Provision Garden | $12,699 – This new interpretive garden will seek to provide additional historical context into the lives of enslaved people on site. Interpretive signs will provide plant information and their traditional uses, enhancing the grantees mission to conserve, preserve, and educate.    

Ten Sleepless Knights, Inc. | Emancipation Day Quadrille | $20,000 – Funding supports The Emancipation Day Quadrille scheduled for July 3, 2021, in Freedom City, Frederiksted. This project marks the 173rd year of Emancipation from slavery, engaging culture bearers in highlighting the importance of this day and celebrating its significance, including commemorating the contributions of revolutionists and education and participation in cultural elements such as quadrille dance and quelbe music.  

United Jazz Foundation | Caribbean Music Institute Online | $20,000 – Funding supports use of music literacy to support student participants to become culture bearers and share their knowledge with the community. This project will use music literacy to enhance students’ life skills, their social intellect, music writing and notation skills, self-determination, and expand their knowledge and vision of their musical cultural history to preserve and  sustain the musical cultural heritage of the USVI.   

Virgin Islands Children’s Museum | VICM Cultural Ambassadors | $19,100 – Funding supports humanities education for Virgin Islands families to instill a sense of pride in local heritage. Through the Cultural Ambassadors program, the VICM will produce short video segments on topics of Virgin Islands historical and cultural interest, hosted by staff members and special guests. Each video segment will also include a participative, hands-on activity that viewers can do at home.   

World Ocean School | St. Croix World Ocean School aboard the historic landmark tall-ship Roseway | $20,000 – Funding supports educational opportunities for St. Croix students to learn aboard the historic landmark tall ship Roseway. This multi-disciplinary programming will facilitate an exploration of the impact of tall ships on St. Croix’s history. From Columbus’s landing and the triangle trade all the way to today’s thriving maritime industry, this program will provide a structured and safe space with opportunities for discussion of a traumatic history and its continued effects on today’s world.   

An additional $168,327 in NEH funding was awarded by CFVI to 10 organizations and one individual in support of humanities-related programs in the Territory:    

Coral Bay Community Council | Preparing National and Local Register Applications and Raising Awareness of History & Historic Schoolhouse Properties in Coral Bay and East End, St. John | $17,500 – Funding supports recognition, protection, public education, and documentation of the two early “one room” schoolhouse buildings in Coral Bay and East End, St. John.  

Fireburn Foundation | Fireburn the Documentary | $19,050 Funding supports completing the production of the documentary that explores the folklore, history, and social and economic ramifications of the event known as Fireburn, and promotion of the documentary  as a tool for cultural preservation and education that speaks to the heritage and resilience of Virgin Islanders.  

Friends of Virgin Islands National Park | Studying the Nexus between Culture and Nature on St. John | $20,000 – Funding will be used to study the relationship between Virgin Islands National Park and cultural heritage preservation on St. John using seminar discussions and podcast series with the goal of identifying best practices for cultural heritage preservation in the future.  

Gifft Hill School | Treasures of the Territory: preserving and promoting Virgin Islands culture, heritage, and history for the next generation | $20,000 – Funding will be used to bring community culture bearers into classrooms to share their knowledge, skills, stories and perspectives with the next generation of Virgin Islanders.  

Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas | Upgrade and reorganization of Lilienfeld House and library; modernization grant for costs of upgrading to social media | $16,000 – Funding will be used to upgrade Lilienfeld House to make the space available for community use and education and to reorganize the library and archives with the ultimate goal of turning Lilienfeld House into a museum.  

Priscilla Hintz | Digitization, Cataloguing and Repatriating of the Bernie Kemp Collection and Archive (St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands Folk Art) | $7,500 – Funding will be used to support the archiving, digitization, catalog printing and repatriation of the Dr. Bernie Kemp Archive and Collection consisting of St. John folk art and related materials that document the history, traditions and culture of folk artists, tradesmen and cultural bearers on St. John with a focus on the tradition of basket making and the East End community of St. John.  

Project Promise VI | Development of a Cultural Awareness Curriculum for St. Croix Youth and Public Mural Exhibit | $14,777 – Funding will be used to engage students in a documentary process focused on the unique narrative of the USVI suffragists using oral narratives and local music to chronicle the VI suffragists’ advocacy, examine the parallel histories of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) communities in the US, and connect these histories to the current discourse on race, citizenship and social activism.  

University of the Virgin Islands | Accessible Revised Organic Act of 1954 | $20,000 – Funding will be used to create an integrated, easily accessible, plain-language brochure of the Revised Organic Act of 1954 that provides both the legislation and its amendments in both electronic and hard copy formats.  

VI Montessori School & Peter Gruber International Academy | “Our Story Will Be Told” – The VI Suffragist Movement | $20,000 – Funding will be used to partner with the League of Women Voters of the VI and engage students in a documentary process focused on the unique narrative of the USVI suffragists using oral narratives and local music to chronicle the VI suffragists’ advocacy, examine the parallel histories of BIPOC communities in the U.S., and connect these histories to the current discourse on race, citizenship and social activism.  

Virgin Islands Museum Civic and Cultural Centre St. Thomas Inc. | Virgin Islands Dutch Creole Project | $13,500 – Funding will be used to support a revival of the extinct Virgin Islands Dutch Creole language through collecting authentic conversations, songs and folktales from the archives for presentation to all generations of Virgin Islanders as a series of animated films and printed and electronic texts, with a particular emphasis placed upon reaching Millennials and Generation Z, as they seek ways to further deepen their awareness of their unique Virgin Islander identity.   Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this press release, do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.  

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About the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands

Since 1990, the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands (CFVI) has been a catalyst for positive change in the Territory through initiatives committed to youth, learning, family support and the environment. With a professional staff and a volunteer Board of Directors composed of community leaders, CFVI is a trusted advocate and supporter of programs that ensure opportunity and sustainability for current and future generations. CFVI is a registered non-profit organization entirely supported by individual donors, grants, trusts, corporate donations and estate planning. For more information, visit cfvi.net.

About the National Endowment for the Humanities
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov.

SBA Extends COVID-19 Economic Injury Disaster Loan Application Deadline through Dec. 31, 2021

WASHINGTON— The U.S. Small Business Administration announced that the deadline to apply for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program for the COVID-19 Pandemic disaster declaration is extended to Dec. 31, 2021.  The deadline extension comes as a result of the recent bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill passed by Congress and enacted by President Trump on Dec. 27, 2020.

To date, the SBA has approved $197 billion in low-interest loans which provides working capital funds to small businesses, non-profits, and agricultural businesses to make it through this challenging time. 

“Following the President’s declaration of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the SBA has approved over 3.6 million loans through our Economic Injury Disaster Loan program nationwide,” Administrator Jovita Carranza said. “The EIDL program has assisted millions of small businesses, including non-profit organizations, sole proprietors and independent contractors, from a wide array of industries and business sectors, to survive this very difficult economic environment.”

EIDL loan applications will continue to be accepted through December 2021, pending the availability of funds. Loans are offered at very affordable terms, with a 3.75% interest rate for small businesses and 2.75% interest rate for nonprofit organizations, a 30-year maturity, and an automatic deferment of one year before monthly payments begin. Every eligible small business and nonprofit are encouraged to apply to get the resources they need.

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov

Contact the U.S. Virgin Islands District Office U.S. Small Business Administration for more information.

ProHealth Urgent Care’s Staff Receives COVID-19 Vaccine

St. Croix, VI – December 29, 2020 – ProHealth Urgent Care, a medical facility serving patients in St. Croix, continues to take every initiative and precaution during the COVID pandemic to care for the community safely.

ProHealth Staff

ProHealth received their allocated Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 17th, and by 2:00 p.m., the majority of the staff were already vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. The process was part of Phase 1a of the rollout, allotted for front line healthcare workers as defined by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the USVI Department of Health (DOH). ProHealth Urgent Care also received a shipment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines on Monday, December 21st.

With over 40 years of medical experience, Medical Director Dr. John Charles Perez was the first to receive his COVID vaccine at ProHealth on Thursday. When asked how he felt to have taken the long-awaited vaccine, Dr. Perez exclaimed, “I feel like a million bucks!” He continued, “I have been encouraging our patient population to embrace the COVID vaccine, and felt it was important to lead by example. I would never recommend for our patients what I would not do for myself or my family.  I consider our community members as family.”

Medical Director Dr. John Charles Perez receives COVID-19 Vaccine

According to Executive Director Dr. Ann Mullings, MD, “shortly after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, the DOH was able to quickly and strategically distribute the vaccines within the Territory.” She added, “there has been nationwide concern among healthcare workers throughout this COVID-19 pandemic. This week has been the most hopeful week since the pandemic began.” Dr. Mullings also expressed that “the COVID vaccine will now allow healthcare workers to safely care for the patients we serve, and to contribute to immunity levels within our community.”

Operations Manager Dr. Trisha Harris and Registered Nurse Supervisor Alexa Cintron were instrumental in organizing the team and preparing the COVID-19 vaccines to be administered as soon as they were received. Dr. Harris expressed, “at ProHealth, we are doing what we can to combat the pandemic and return to some sense of normalcy. The COVID-19 vaccination is the first step in that direction.” 

ProHealth Urgent Care is committed to safety and is poised to administer both the Pfizer and the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. The COVID-19 vaccinations are being provided through a phased approach led by the CDC and DOH.  The phased guidelines outlining the next patient population to receive the COVID 19 vaccine, along with start date, will be provided and communicated by the CDC and the DOH.    ProHealth wants to emphasize to the community that the vaccine is not to be feared but is instead something to be embraced as a way of keeping the community healthy and safe.

The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine has been authorized for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), to prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is for use in individuals 16 years of age and older.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted emergency use authorization to Moderna for its vaccine, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended the vaccine for people ages 18 and older.

ProHealth Urgent Care LLC is a new state-of-the-art ambulatory care facility on St. Croix that offers diagnosis, observation, consultation, treatment, intervention, laboratory, pharmacy, and imaging services on an outpatient basis (www.prohealthvi.com).   ##  

St Croix Chamber of Commerce Supports Tax Amnesty Bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bill would encourage residents and businesses to pay outstanding taxes without imposed penalties.

ST CROIX, USVI, NOVEMBER 20, 2020 — The St. Croix Chamber of Commerce strongly supports Bill No. 33-0439 (the “tax amnesty bill”), introduced by Senators Donna Frett-Gregory and Marvin Blyden, which establishes a tax amnesty period until June 30, 2021 for both income taxes and gross receipts taxes. 

Bill No. 33-0439 passed through the Senate Rules and Judiciary Committee on Thursday, November 19, 2020 will now be voted in the next Committee of the Whole Hearing. The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked economic havoc on St. Croix’s businesses, causing many to close, and severely reducing cash flow to hundreds of the businesses who have somehow managed to survive the onslaught. The reduction in tourist traffic to St. Croix combined with numerous stay-at-home orders have resulted in a massive decrease in income as well as a severe contraction of the economy writ large. This economic contraction prevented many businesses from utilizing the last tax amnesty period.  We urge all Senators to approve the tax amnesty bill, and recommend in the strongest terms that the Governor sign it into law.  

The St Croix Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit organization of local businesses working together to improve the island of St Croix’s economic growth through advocacy, networking and promotion. Founded in 1924, members range from large corporations to small mom-and-pop businesses and individuals.

For questions or more information, please contact the Chamber at info@stxchamber.org.

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Viya Partners with WIX, a Global Company, to offer Free Websites to Businesses

Jennifer Matarangas-King
Vice President of Public Relations | Governmental Affairs
o| 340-712-5053 m| 340-717-5886 e| jking@viya.vi

viya wix banner 2020

St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix, USVI – November 3, 2020
Viya, the leading telecommunications provider in the US Virgin Islands, understands the negative impact of the COVID crisis on all industries, especially small to medium size businesses.
Viya has partnered with WIX, one of the global leading companies in website creation, to assist small and medium businesses. Viya will offer one free year of WIX service when business customers subscribe to a new internet service.

Businesses in the US Virgin Islands rely mostly on social media to promote their products and services with little freedom to customize content and to have e-commerce capabilities. With this offer, business owners can start an online business, offer online bookings, showcase their work, promote their business and much more.

Viya business customers are not required to have technical knowledge or resources to create a website. Business owners answer a few simple questions and the WIX software builds a professional custom-made website, including relevant content and top-notch design. After personalizing the site with some edits, it will be ready to launch.

“Virgin Islanders have always embraced entrepreneurship and we want to empower and provide easy access to help anyone migrate their business to an online platform with this offer. This bundle with our great internet service makes perfect sense. Small and Medium businesses will be able to reach out to customers in the US Virgin Islands and the world. Businesses in the territory can now transition from “brick and mortar” storefronts to “online”, have their own store, accept payments and engage a much broader audience by using WIX’s very intuitive and user-friendly platform and will now have full control of their own content 24/7. E-Commerce is now more than ever, an integral component of the development of the Territory’s economy”, said Chief Commercial Officer Ricardo Ariza.

The offer includes Wix Basic Premium service to build your own e-commerce site, one year of a free domain name and many other great features.

To take advantage of this offer, new business customers must sign up for internet service and current customers are required to upgrade to a higher tier of service.

Additional details about this exciting offer are available at http://viyabusiness.com/free-website/ will be announcing other services to help businesses go back on their feet and promote their products.

About Viya: Viya is the largest telecommunications provider located in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), providing a full suite of telecommunications and entertainment services. Our family of services for both the business and residential markets include wireline and wireless voice service, fixed and mobile broadband plus cable television service offered over a hybrid fiber-coaxial wireline network and a state-of-the-art 4G LTE wireless network serving St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.

About Wix: Wix is leading the way with a cloud-based development platform for over 180 million registered users worldwide. Wix was founded on the belief that the Internet should be accessible to everyone to develop, create and contribute. Through free and premium subscriptions, Wix empowers millions of businesses, organizations, artists and individuals to take their businesses, brands and workflow online.