MORE than 130 vendors are getting ready to set up shop in the newly refurbished Redemption Arcade in downtown Kingston.

Formerly known as Redemption Market, the arcade has been fully repurposed as a haberdashery (dry goods only) to the tune of US$500,000. The funds for the project were provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the project implemented by the Digicel Foundation. Other partners include the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) and the Urban Development Corporation (UDC).

“Everyone is happy to know that the market has been given a makeover,” commented Market Manager Opal Hume. “It was in a deplorable state before. Now it’s nicer, prettier, and cleaner and more people will come inside here to shop.”

The Digicel Foundation and USAID officially handed over the arcade to the KSAC at a ceremony on location yesterday, which was attended by US Ambassador to Jamaica Pamela Bridgewater, Kingston Mayor Angela Brown Burke, and other dignitaries.

The refurbished arcade now includes over 130 shops, a new roof over a section of the market, and improved water, sanitation and waste management facilities. It will be fully opened and ready for business in January 2013.

“We are always in support of projects that encourage social entrepreneurship,” noted Samantha Chantrelle, executive director of the Digicel Foundation. “Economic opportunities and growth are critical to social mobility and the Digicel Foundation wants to continue to play an active role in empowering individuals and communities alike towards this goal.”

In her address, Bridgewater noted that the “transformation will create economic opportunities for the vendors, as well as a variety of service providers within the combined market district”.

“Digicel Jamaica Foundation and USAID are committed to Jamaica’s development,” she declared.

Downtown Kingston has long been the commercial hub of the city. However the markets, though a vibrant part of its social and economic environment, were seriously in need of repair. In 2011, the Digicel Foundation refurbished the popular Coronation food market.

The goal of the projects is to revitalise and promote the downtown Kingston area as an attractive, safe and vibrant place to shop and conduct business. The telecommunications company recently established its Global Headquarters in downtown Kingston.

Yesterday, Mayor Brown Burke said a dream has been realised.

“Today is a really good day. We are seeing, coming into fruition, a dream we long had … and the KSAC has every intention of making this a model arcade, including the security and safety of our vendors and shoppers,” she emphasised.