KINGSTON, Jamaica — Approximately 20 small and medium sized businesses are to benefit from 30,000 square feet of space at Factories Corporation of Jamaica’s Hayes Industrial Estate Clarendon.

Factories Corporation of Jamaica, which is now on a drive to create new space for small and medium sized businesses, said it has identified the location following complaints from the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA) and the Small Business Association of Jamaica (SBAJ) about the unavailability of dedicated space for their members.

Representatives from FCJ, including Chairman Lyttleton ‘Tanny’ Shirley, Managing Director Dr Donald Farquharson along with JMA Executive Director Imega Breese McNab, Director Catherine Goodall and SBAJ President Hugh Johnson, conducted a tour of the facility yesterday, according to a release.

The JMA has vowed to make the partnership a success. Breese McNab said the organisation is committed to it.

“We look forward to working with you. We have a time frame of no more than 6 months to get this going. We represent over 150 members that employ less than 10 persons. We know their needs and wants and factory space comes up always in the top three. And if we can make this happen, we know that we are moving ahead,” she said.

Following the tour, a decision was made to establish a working group comprising representatives from FCJ, JMA and the SBAJ. The group will develop the selection criteria for those who will be offered space at a concessionary rate. It will also decide on the concessionary level to be provided.

The group will also assess the shared services requirements; identify space requirements for each candidate and the types of businesses to be accommodated.