The Medina administration announced the start of the “I am the Barrio” program (“Mi Barrio Soy Yo”) to reduce crime nationwide. The program includes offering entrepreneurs low cost funding to encourage young people to start and keep businesses as an alternative to a life of crime. The government is making available RD$500 million for the program that primarily seeks to finance micro and small manufacturers. The program will bring the low-cost funding service under Banca Solidaria to at-risk communities. Banca Solidaria will be working with the local churches, community leaders to introduce the program in the barrios, announced Mayra Jiménez, general manager of Banca Solidaria.
For starters, the program will be promoted in the barrios Ensanche Luperón, Capotillo, Los Guandules, Las Cañitas, Carretera Mella, Camino Adentro, Mandinga, Los Alcarrizos, Pueblo Nuevo, Hato Nuevo, Los Americanos, Los Mina, and Los Tres Brazos in Greater Santo Domingo.
The program also has the support of the Institute for Student Welfare (INABIE) and the Center for Exports and Investments (CEI-RD).
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El Nuevo Diario
26 January 2017
