From Living Room to Nail Studio With the Help of SDC’s Entrepreneurship Grant

When Nail Technician Charma-kay Barrett began doing nails from the living room of her home in Kingston, she had no idea that in less than seven years, the operation would grow into a viable, registered, tax-compliant business with plans for growth.

Her thriving small business was fueled by a grant from the Social Development Commission (SDC), which plays a vital role in supporting grassroots entrepreneurs across Jamaica.

“When I started my business in 2017, around 2018 thereabouts, I started at home. I worked from my living room with basic tools – a single styling chair and hand-held files,” Miss Barrett said.

She recalled that her clients had to wait extra time for their nails to dry as she did not own a light-emitting diode (LED) nail dryer that would have sped up the process.

Miss Barrett explained that everything changed for her in 2019 when her mother encouraged her to participate in the SDC training for grassroots entrepreneurs.

Through the programme, she learned business planning, client retention, and financial management skills that laid the foundation for her business, Charma-Kay’s Nail Studio, to grow.

“The real game changer came that year when I received the SDC $80,000 grant. The money was well spent because it was well needed,” Miss Barrett noted.

She explained that while her initial plan was to acquire a styling chair, she had to pivot as the “very luxurious piece of equipment” would not work for her living-room space.

“Instead of purchasing the chair, I made smaller purchases. I invested in an LED gel [dryer] lamp. I also added a portable pedicure bath so I could do home visits. I purchased hygienic supplies, like tea tree oil [and] stuff like that,” the Nail Technician explained.

She tells JIS News that the entrepreneurship grant did not only enable her to purchase much-needed equipment, but it also bought her freedom.

“Today, Charma-kay’s Nails is registered, tax compliant and no longer a home-based business. I moved into a rented studio, and this summer I’ll be hiring my first employee to handle growing demand,” Miss Barrett shared to rousing applause from this year’s cohort of grant recipients during a recent handover ceremony at the Ministry of Local Government & Community Development’s offices in Kingston.

She added that her clientele has doubled, and she now sees a clear path to expanding her small business into a full-service beauty hub.

The entrepreneur expressed her appreciation for the SDC’s support, noting that “the grants programme does more than fund businesses; it fuels economic resilience”.

Miss Barrett emphasises that the programme takes into consideration the unique challenges faced by nano-entrepreneurs operating in their communities.

She points out that the non-repayable grants eliminate the fear of debt that entrepreneurs hoping to expand their businesses face.

The entrepreneur emphasises that small businesses “are the heartbeat of Jamaica’s economy” as they serve neighbours, hire locals, and reinvest in communities.

She noted that the grants received by community entrepreneurs “validate their hustle” and she thanked the SDC and the Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Hon. Desmond McKenzie, for seeing and believing in them and for proving that inclusive growth starts at the grassroots.

The special entrepreneurship grant was introduced by the SDC in financial year 2021/2022 as part of its expanded suite of business development initiatives under the Local Economic Development Support Programme (LEDSP).

The agency says 1,021 small businesses have received a combined $46.6 million in grants awards under the programme as of 2025.

Another 250 entrepreneurs are expected to receive grants this financial year (2025/2026).