The LASCO Chin Foundation (LCF) launched its Entrepreneurship Hub at the newly renovated LCF facility located at 31 Red Hills Road in Kingston on Wednesday, October 2, in a demonstration of its commitment to youth and community empowerment.

The opening of the facility was a joint initiative that brought together key stakeholders from the LCF, The Trust for the Americas, Institute of Law & Economics (ILE) and Citi Foundation, as the facility will also serve The Trust for the Americas’ DIA Urban Lab.

The Citi Foundation has served as a sponsor of the DIA Urban Lab, while the ILE has been the programme coordinator, supporting young entrepreneurs engaged micro,  small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

The event marked the beginning of a new chapter in the organisations’ collective efforts, further enriched by the presentations on diverse educational opportunities. Shauna Todd, Project Coordinator of The Trust’s DIA Urban Lab, and Starlliea Smith, Project Coordinator at LCF, praised the achievements of young innovators who participated in recent entrepreneurial training and coaching programmes. Smith noted that the combined launch of the LCF Entrepreneurship Hub and reopening of the DIA Urban Lab underscores their continued commitment to empowering local communities and encouraging innovation across various sectors.  

Dwayne Gutzmer, CEO, Institute of Law & Economics, in delivered the opening remarks, highlighted the importance of community-driven projects that uplift local entrepreneurs, promote urban transformation, and create opportunities for all Jamaicans.

Speaking on the LCF journey to completing the facility, Professor Rosalea Hamilton, chief executive officer of the foundation, reflected on late Chairman Lascelles Chin’s commitment to similar initiatives.

“He was personally involved in the entrepreneurship programme…providing personal financial support to two of our exceptional entrepreneurs because of their impact on their communities. Leadership from the top matters, and I am so pleased that the leadership from the top continues with our new Chairman James Rawle.”

Professor Hamilton also emphasised the lessons learnt and their impact on the new phase of the entrepreneurial journey.

“We learnt we had to act fast and to find innovative solutions to unknown challenges. We learnt how much farther we could go with strong partners; solid partnerships enabled us to not only provide support to entrepreneurs in our programme as well as other small and mid-sized enterprises, but also to monitor their progress during this period,” she shared.

Following a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of the LCF Entrepreneurship Hub and The Trust’s DIA Urban Lab, attendees of the event participated in a tour of the facility.

The LCF  Entrepreneurship Hub and The Trust for the Americas’ DIA Urban Lab will serve as a central resource for aspiring business owners and innovators. It is designed for comprehensive mentorship, business development training, and ongoing support to help entrepreneurs transform their ideas into viable business models and, ultimately, thriving enterprises.

The facility is currently outfitted with state-of-the-art resources, including computers, laser engraving machine, and advanced 3D printing technology, as well as isolated microphone sets for persons who may be interested in podcasting. The cutting-edge environment encourages hands-on-learning, empowering entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions and scale their businesses.

One of the beneficiaries of the DIA Lab, Jermaine Bryan from Montego Bay – whose Blueprint Farms project focuses on sustainable and revolutionary, soil-less vertical farming technology for more efficient food production – was part of the event and extolled the programme for preparing him to compete in the upcoming Entrepreneurship World Cup Finals slated for November 5-9 in Saudi Arabia,

Chairman of the LASCO Affiliated Companies James ED Rawle underscored the foundation’s commitment to nurturing Jamaica’s entrepreneurial spirit.

“Today’s launch of the LCF Entrepreneurship Hub and reopening of The Trust’s DIA Urban Lab, has been an eye-opening experience. It symbolises more than the renovation of our facility – it marks a pivotal moment for Jamaica’s entrepreneurs,” he said.

He continued: “We are committed to providing the tools and support they need to unlock their potential and succeed. Through strategic partnerships, we are building an ecosystem that nurtures creative entrepreneurship. This is not just a project; it is the beginning of a movement to transform lives and build stronger, more sustainable communities.”