Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands
Virgin Islands

Virgin Islands SBDC

Reimagining Main Street

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

CORAL BAY CATERING EXPANSION FROM PRIVATE CHEF TO FULL-SERVICE CATERING & FOOD DELIVERY

Erin Durrel, Chef and Owner of Coral Bay Catering, has seen her business transformed over the past year. "It took almost 2 years to follow all the compliance issues, but we were finally approved by all agencies and received our license!" My SBDC's “we can do this” approach kept me from giving up. I have expanded my business from in-home villa chef services to full-service catering and food delivery. We don't just cater to food; we cultivate experiences. Small details add up to make big, lasting impressions.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

CORAL BAY CATERING EXPANSION FROM PRIVATE CHEF TO FULL-SERVICE CATERING & FOOD DELIVERY

Erin Durrel, Chef and Owner of Coral Bay Catering, has seen her business transformed over the past year. "It took almost 2 years to follow all the compliance issues, but we were finally approved by all agencies and received our license!" My SBDC's “we can do this” approach kept me from giving up. I have expanded my business from in-home villa chef services to full-service catering and food delivery. We don't just cater to food; we cultivate experiences. Small details add up to make big, lasting impressions.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

CORAL BAY CATERING EXPANSION FROM PRIVATE CHEF TO FULL-SERVICE CATERING & FOOD DELIVERY

Erin Durrel, Chef and Owner of Coral Bay Catering, has seen her business transformed over the past year. "It took almost 2 years to follow all the compliance issues, but we were finally approved by all agencies and received our license!" My SBDC's “we can do this” approach kept me from giving up. I have expanded my business from in-home villa chef services to full-service catering and food delivery. We don't just cater to food; we cultivate experiences. Small details add up to make big, lasting impressions.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

CORAL BAY CATERING EXPANSION FROM PRIVATE CHEF TO FULL-SERVICE CATERING & FOOD DELIVERY

Erin Durrel, Chef and Owner of Coral Bay Catering, has seen her business transformed over the past year. "It took almost 2 years to follow all the compliance issues, but we were finally approved by all agencies and received our license!" My SBDC's “we can do this” approach kept me from giving up. I have expanded my business from in-home villa chef services to full-service catering and food delivery. We don't just cater to food; we cultivate experiences. Small details add up to make big, lasting impressions.

MILLENNIALS + GEN-Z

VI CRAWL APP ALLOWS TOURISTS TO EXPERIENCE THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS FROM A LOCAL POINT OF VIEW

The founders of VI Crawl met as students at the University of the Virgin Islands, where they quickly realized their overlapping passion for Creative Arts, Cultural Enrichment & Entrepreneurship. Wanting to help promote their home creatively and uniquely, they created the VI Crawl App that provides locally certified answers to questions about Virgin Islands' food, heritage & experiences in "Virgin Islands Storytelling style."  The app comprises cultural information cards, fun facts, and folk tales from the Virgin Islands. Users can also activate GPS directions that guide them to each site.  The card categories include food, heritage, and lookouts with an aerial map of the views.

MILLENNIALS + GEN-Z

VI CRAWL APP ALLOWS TOURISTS TO EXPERIENCE THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS FROM A LOCAL POINT OF VIEW

The founders of VI Crawl met as students at the University of the Virgin Islands, where they quickly realized their overlapping passion for Creative Arts, Cultural Enrichment & Entrepreneurship. Wanting to help promote their home creatively and uniquely, they created the VI Crawl App that provides locally certified answers to questions about Virgin Islands' food, heritage & experiences in "Virgin Islands Storytelling style."  The app comprises cultural information cards, fun facts, and folk tales from the Virgin Islands. Users can also activate GPS directions that guide them to each site.  The card categories include food, heritage, and lookouts with an aerial map of the views.

MILLENNIALS + GEN-Z

VI CRAWL APP ALLOWS TOURISTS TO EXPERIENCE THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS FROM A LOCAL POINT OF VIEW

The founders of VI Crawl met as students at the University of the Virgin Islands, where they quickly realized their overlapping passion for Creative Arts, Cultural Enrichment & Entrepreneurship. Wanting to help promote their home creatively and uniquely, they created the VI Crawl App that provides locally certified answers to questions about Virgin Islands' food, heritage & experiences in "Virgin Islands Storytelling style."  The app comprises cultural information cards, fun facts, and folk tales from the Virgin Islands. Users can also activate GPS directions that guide them to each site.  The card categories include food, heritage, and lookouts with an aerial map of the views.

MILLENNIALS + GEN-Z

VI CRAWL APP ALLOWS TOURISTS TO EXPERIENCE THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS FROM A LOCAL POINT OF VIEW

The founders of VI Crawl met as students at the University of the Virgin Islands, where they quickly realized their overlapping passion for Creative Arts, Cultural Enrichment & Entrepreneurship. Wanting to help promote their home creatively and uniquely, they created the VI Crawl App that provides locally certified answers to questions about Virgin Islands' food, heritage & experiences in "Virgin Islands Storytelling style."  The app comprises cultural information cards, fun facts, and folk tales from the Virgin Islands. Users can also activate GPS directions that guide them to each site.  The card categories include food, heritage, and lookouts with an aerial map of the views.

TECH DEVELOPMENT

Vital Solar has received an SBA Loan, as well as counseling and assistance in all areas of business management and along various stages of the business life cycle from the VI Small Business Development Center (VI SBDC) St. John satellite office.

OWNER/OPERATOR OF VITAL SOLAR

TECH DEVELOPMENT

Vital Solar has received an SBA Loan, as well as counseling and assistance in all areas of business management and along various stages of the business life cycle from the VI Small Business Development Center (VI SBDC) St. John satellite office.

OWNER/OPERATOR OF VITAL SOLAR

TECH DEVELOPMENT

Vital Solar has received an SBA Loan, as well as counseling and assistance in all areas of business management and along various stages of the business life cycle from the VI Small Business Development Center (VI SBDC) St. John satellite office.

Rob Tutton

OWNER/OPERATOR OF VITAL SOLAR

TECH DEVELOPMENT

Vital Solar has received an SBA Loan, as well as counseling and assistance in all areas of business management and along various stages of the business life cycle from the VI Small Business Development Center (VI SBDC) St. John satellite office.

OWNER/OPERATOR OF VITAL SOLAR

COVID-19 RESPONSE

I have worked with the VI SBDC staff since July 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The staff helped me apply for the two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and I received both. My counselor also helped me apply for forgiveness of both.

OWNER & TAXI OPERATOR

COVID-19 RESPONSE

I have worked with the VI SBDC staff since July 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The staff helped me apply for the two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and I received both. My counselor also helped me apply for forgiveness of both.

OWNER & TAXI OPERATOR

COVID-19 RESPONSE

I have worked with the VI SBDC staff since July 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The staff helped me apply for the two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and I received both. My counselor also helped me apply for forgiveness of both.

Frantz Duverge

OWNER & TAXI OPERATOR

COVID-19 RESPONSE

I have worked with the VI SBDC staff since July 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The staff helped me apply for the two Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans and I received both. My counselor also helped me apply for forgiveness of both.

OWNER & TAXI OPERATOR

DISASTER RECOVERY

37

Small businesses received federal assistance in 2022 to aide with disaster recovery totaling over $3.9 million dollars

DISASTER RECOVERY

37

Small businesses received federal assistance in 2022 to aide with disaster recovery totaling over $3.9 million dollars

DISASTER RECOVERY

37

Small businesses received federal assistance in 2022 to aide with disaster recovery totaling over $3.9 million dollars

DISASTER RECOVERY

37

Small businesses received federal assistance in 2022 to aide with disaster recovery totaling over $3.9 million dollars

VETERANS

7

Educational trainings events with SBA and the Puerto Rico Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC) to 70 veterans and/or their families in 2022

VETERANS

7

Educational trainings events with SBA and the Puerto Rico Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC) to 70 veterans and/or their families in 2022

VETERANS

7

Educational trainings events with SBA and the Puerto Rico Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC) to 70 veterans and/or their families in 2022

VETERANS

7

Educational trainings events with SBA and the Puerto Rico Veteran Business Outreach Center (VBOC) to 70 veterans and/or their families in 2022

WOMEN-OWNED

REEF 2 PEAK EXTRAORDINARY EXCURSIONS

I began this business offering tours and rentals on the East End of St. John and now at the famous Maho Beach! Our big break came when Reef2Peak was granted a National Park permit allowing us to expand our tours to the mangroves and coral reefs in Hurricane Hole National Monument.  As the sole owner and single mother, I often needed a sounding board regarding my business activity, and my SBDC Counselor was just that person.  I can discuss everything from fiscal best practices to staff management with her and get solid guidance! We set goals to streamline operations and improve business, and through hard work and effort, I experienced an increase in sales from 2020 to 2021 of over 200%, with six new jobs created!

WOMEN-OWNED

REEF 2 PEAK EXTRAORDINARY EXCURSIONS

I began this business offering tours and rentals on the East End of St. John and now at the famous Maho Beach! Our big break came when Reef2Peak was granted a National Park permit allowing us to expand our tours to the mangroves and coral reefs in Hurricane Hole National Monument.  As the sole owner and single mother, I often needed a sounding board regarding my business activity, and my SBDC Counselor was just that person.  I can discuss everything from fiscal best practices to staff management with her and get solid guidance! We set goals to streamline operations and improve business, and through hard work and effort, I experienced an increase in sales from 2020 to 2021 of over 200%, with six new jobs created!

WOMEN-OWNED

REEF 2 PEAK EXTRAORDINARY EXCURSIONS

I began this business offering tours and rentals on the East End of St. John and now at the famous Maho Beach! Our big break came when Reef2Peak was granted a National Park permit allowing us to expand our tours to the mangroves and coral reefs in Hurricane Hole National Monument.  As the sole owner and single mother, I often needed a sounding board regarding my business activity, and my SBDC Counselor was just that person.  I can discuss everything from fiscal best practices to staff management with her and get solid guidance! We set goals to streamline operations and improve business, and through hard work and effort, I experienced an increase in sales from 2020 to 2021 of over 200%, with six new jobs created!

WOMEN-OWNED

REEF 2 PEAK EXTRAORDINARY EXCURSIONS

I began this business offering tours and rentals on the East End of St. John and now at the famous Maho Beach! Our big break came when Reef2Peak was granted a National Park permit allowing us to expand our tours to the mangroves and coral reefs in Hurricane Hole National Monument.  As the sole owner and single mother, I often needed a sounding board regarding my business activity, and my SBDC Counselor was just that person.  I can discuss everything from fiscal best practices to staff management with her and get solid guidance! We set goals to streamline operations and improve business, and through hard work and effort, I experienced an increase in sales from 2020 to 2021 of over 200%, with six new jobs created!

SPECIAL POPULATIONS

HELPING SBDC CLIENTS START, GROW, & SUCCEED

The VI SBDC has supported local small businesses through various partnerships and outreach initiatives including pop-up shops for new businesses and existing businesses.  In 2022, new business starts increased by 39%, and over 1,500 jobs were supported.

SPECIAL POPULATIONS

HELPING SBDC CLIENTS START, GROW, & SUCCEED

The VI SBDC has supported local small businesses through various partnerships and outreach initiatives including pop-up shops for new businesses and existing businesses.  In 2022, new business starts increased by 39%, and over 1,500 jobs were supported.

SPECIAL POPULATIONS

HELPING SBDC CLIENTS START, GROW, & SUCCEED

The VI SBDC has supported local small businesses through various partnerships and outreach initiatives including pop-up shops for new businesses and existing businesses.  In 2022, new business starts increased by 39%, and over 1,500 jobs were supported.

SPECIAL POPULATIONS

HELPING SBDC CLIENTS START, GROW, & SUCCEED

The VI SBDC has supported local small businesses through various partnerships and outreach initiatives including pop-up shops for new businesses and existing businesses.  In 2022, new business starts increased by 39%, and over 1,500 jobs were supported.

Network Contact:
Sherrika Industrious Phillips
340-693-1694Email meSchedule a call