Freeport, Grand Bahama- As the Grand Bahama Chamber of Commerce (GBCC) moves ahead to formulate its economic development plan a fund-raiser has been planned to aid its implementation.
The GBCC will host a Mock Casino Night on September 25, 2010 at the Our Lucaya Resort, opening with a cocktail reception at 7 p.m followed by casino activities from 8 p.m. to 12 p.m.
During a press conference yesterday committee members were sure to explain that this event will not be a cash casino event, but tournament styled play.
Tickets for the event will be sold at $100 for $500 worth of playing chips and at the end of the evening the players with the most chips will win attractive prizes ranging from a large flat screen television to trips, cruises and more.
GBCC Director Neville Wilchcombe said that casino games will consist of black jack, polka, Texas Hold 'em and roulette.
He noted that a training session will be held for person who are not familiar will the various games to teach persons how to play some of the games.
During the cocktail reception artwork by three Grand Bahama artists – Chantal Bethel, Claudette Dean and Leo Brown – will be auctioned off and proceeds will go to a local charity
Persons wishing to attend the event are asked to purchase tickets from the GBCC, the Seventeen Centre or Gizmos and Gadgets.
The Chamber's economic plan is a three-phase one.
Phase I, which has been completed, was to educate and train the Chamber's Board of Directors and Chamber staff on the elements necessary for effective Economic Development – identifying stakeholders, issues detrimental to economic growth and those change agents that may provide the keys to mitigating those issues identified.
Phase II will include established consultation sessions with those stakeholders and change agents identified in Phase I. The purpose of these sessions is to discuss and present the critical findings on each issue as determined by stakeholder work groups. It is essential that a consensus is reached on how to resolve the critical issues during this Phase. The issues and resolution of these issues will be presented to the public prior to beginning Phase III.
Phase III is the development of a Grand Bahama Economic Development Strategy and Implementation Plan. The Chamber will work with its committee and consultants to develop a project team that will prepare a comprehensive and practical redevelopment and development plan based on the findings of the stakeholders and subsequent confirmation of the findings as well as the Economic Development Strategy.
The strategy will focus on the key assets of the island, but also include appropriate direct investment as well as working to expand the existing companies located in the Grand Bahama area.
That strategy will include entrepreneurial development and ways to encourage and nurture the entrepreneurial spirit. The Chamber also hopes to identify significant catalyst projects that will promote economic development.
