USAID Micro-Grants Help Serbia’s Vulnerable Residents
In late 2004 a special project "Start Your Own Business" was launched as part of the Community Revitalization through Democratic Action (CRDA) program, implemented by USAID partner ACDI/VOCA in central Serbia. The project provided up to $2,800 in grant money to
unemployed local residents, refugees, and internally displaced people in eight municipalities with the highest unemployment rates: Kragujevac, Kraljevo, Smederevo, Smederevska Palanka, Cacak, Jagodina, Svilajnac, and Arandelovac. To receive a grant, applicants needed to have a registered business and provide 25% of the project value.
At the fourth International Entrepreneurship Fair "Business Bases" held in Belgrade from November 30 to December 3, 2005, among the 270 exhibitors were the owners of 23 small businesses from the Central Serbian region who benefited from this project, supported by the American people through USAID.
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| Milutin Strizovic has lined up buyers and potential international marketing
opportunities for the woodcrafts produced in his shop in Cacak |
One of the exhibitors was the owner of the Etno Bazar shop from the Cacak municipality, Milutin Strizovic. After six years of job searching, he decided to start his own business with the help of the CRDA program's "Start Your Own Business" project. The resulting micro-grant helped Strizovic purchase a new multifunctional carpentry machine. The funds, paired with his artistic handcrafting skills, helped Milutin begin to produce traditional ethnic wooden souvenirs like dishes for national cuisine, as well as wooden promotional material and wooden toys.
His products attracted great attention at the International Entrepreneurship Fair. "I went to the fair with big expectations and I can say that I am very satisfied. Two clients from Croatia were interested in the weaving looms I make. And, last week, I delivered them the first one," said Strizovic.
Strizovic’s products also attracted the attention of representatives from the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and the Serbian Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion. He is now in contact with the latter organization about presenting his products at a fair in Japan this year.
Through USAID, the American people have provided nearly $2.5 million for the "Start Your Own Business" project. This assistance has helped 800 central Serbian residents, refugees, and internally displaced people start new businesses that bring income and employment to their communities.
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