4th Brigade Combat Team Works With Area Residents
The area of Haswa has seen a lot of strife, and recently there were a number of successful projects that were began as a result of aid from coalition troops. Soldiers visited with different members of the business community, to find out what issues could be addressed and given assistance.
Members of the 3rd infantry, 4th BCT, 415th Civil Affairs Battalion, Company B worked to distribute a number of micro grants to landowners and businesses in the Haswa region. These grants are designed to help restart businesses and provide temporary working capital to businesses that are struggling to get established.
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The microgrants are there to stimulate economic growth, and work toward assisting businesses become self-sufficient. “This is a renaissance of economics that is provided by our micro grants, and we hope that they will help kick start the village,†said Major Eric Kerr.
Major Kerr is the Commander of Company B, and one of the main proponents of the micro grants for the Haswa area. The screenings for the micro grant program began in mid March and the Haswa area qualified 11 different business owners for the program.
The grants are administered with 25 percent of the funds given to the stores and businesses up front. Then, after a period of time, if they made a successful gain on their business plan or plan of operations, the rest of the micro grant was awarded. This helped businesses be focused and have specific improvements in mind, and to have a goal.
