The U.S. Embassy in Barbados has announced that Michelle Samuel, a distinguished Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI) Fellow from Saint Lucia, and her team have been awarded the 2025 Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF) grant of USD $54,852 for their project, BizConnect.
The Alumni Engagement Innovation Fund (AEIF), an initiative of the U.S. State Department, provides grants to exchange program alumni to design and implement innovative community-focused projects addressing global challenges.
Led by Ms. Samuel and a team of alumni from Saint Lucia, BizConnect aims to revolutionize the local entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing vital support and resources to emerging innovators through education, mentorship, and collaboration with U.S. business experts. The grant will fund workshops on U.S. business practices and entrepreneurial frameworks, a platform for continuous learning and networking, and mentorship opportunities connecting Saint Lucian entrepreneurs with experienced U.S. mentors—directly benefiting 65 participants and indirectly impacting over 300 individuals in the business community.
The project reflects the goals of the America250 initiative by expanding BizConnect to include U.S. best practices in entrepreneurship, mentorship, and innovation. It will leverage American business expertise, promote cross-cultural collaboration, and use advanced digital tools to improve the platform’s reach and effectiveness. Aligning with U.S. standards, the project will strengthen local entrepreneurial networks and support sustainable economic growth and international partnerships.
BizConnect is poised to serve as a model for how international cooperation can foster vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems and drive sustainable development. The U.S. Embassy has congratulated Ms. Samuel and her team on this noteworthy achievement.