BLP financial support, a building block to growth
Dommatua Blocks, a small business founded by young local entrepreneur Clinton Vari on Tutuba Island in Vanuatu, has transformed with support from a Business Link Pacific grant.
With a passion for business, Clinton started his block manufacturing business to address local demand for blocks in an area of population growth on the island where locals were sourcing blocks from outside the area.
Starting with a single cement mixer and two moulds, he successfully established operations and responded to growing customer needs. In mid-July last year, the small business transitioned from an informal to a formal enterprise, registering under the name Dommatua Blocks.
However, consistently high demand resulted in product shortages and customer delays.
With capacity constraints limiting his growth, Business Link Pacific intervened to provide support. Clinton received a grant through the BLP Small Grant Facility, which enabled him to acquire an additional mixer and new moulds, improving the businesses capacity to meet the steady demand from customers.
The BLP Small Grant Facility supports micro and small businesses to improve business performance and procure essential equipment and infrastructure for business growth. It prioritises small business led by women, youth, people living with disabilities, indigenous and rural and community-based businesses. It is open on a periodic basis in countries where BLP operate.
Today, Clinton’s business continues to grow. He has expanded his workforce and now has four employees to keep up with the increase in demand and improved productivity.
Profits generated have supported the opening of a new branch operation located in another growth area where new homes are being built to support a growing population, including RSE returnees.
Supporting improved operational efficiency, a new dedicated administration office has been built along with an expanded storage facility/ workshop. In addition, an expanded storage facility provides for improved inventory management and product quality maintenance.
Clinton says he is very grateful for the support of BLP and the Small Grant Facility which has had a significant impact on his business. His business located within an active community of construction workers and builders now contributes to local development initiatives such as school upgrades, new community halls, and residential projects. For his customers, a local supplier of concrete blocks has reduced transportation costs further benefiting the community.
The success of Dommatua Blocks stands as an inspiring example of how a young local entrepreneur can prosper with targeted support to thrive and contribute to growth in their community.
BLP facilitates access to business advisory services and financial support. To start your journey with BLP, you can self-assess your needs by using the free online tools available to help small- and medium-sized businesses diagnose areas in their businesses that an advisor could improve.
The first step can be the online Business Health Check. You can also check your business’s resilience to respond to crises or climate change challenges on the Business Continuity Planner and the Climate Action Sensor. If you prefer to meet a local BLP representative in person to discuss your business, get in touch with our local partners to arrange a face-to-face Diagnostic.