MONTEGO BAY, St James — Nearly two-thirds of grass-roots businesses receiving annual support through the Social Development Commission’s (SDC) Local Economic Development Support Programme are led by women, according to the State agency.

“Of the approximately 400 such enterprises that the SDC supports each year, more than 60 per cent of them are led by women. Not only are they led by women but over 1,200 jobs are being created each year by these local economic initiatives,” Executive Director Omar Frith remarked at the SDC’s Women’s Empowerment and Opportunity Fair, held in Montego Bay on Thursday.

“These businesses are generating approximately $10 million per year in income and so women are not just recipients of service and support, women are creating opportunities and building our local economy,” he added.