A soldier from the 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Reg., 3rd AAB, 4th Inf. Div., distributes equipment from the micro-grant program to a local Iraqi businessman who plans to expand his business. The micro-grants are expected to boost the local economy. Photo by Spc. Chastity Boykin

With the improvement of security, the business community is in a better position to grow. But in order to grow, some small businesses need some help.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Advise and Assist Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, recently distributed micro-grants to 36 small business owners in Maysan province.

The micro-grant program is designed to stimulate the local economy by improving and expanding local businesses, said Maysan Provincial Reconstruction Team economic advisor, Donna Carter.

U.S. forces issue micro-grants in sums of up to $5,000 to Iraqi small business owners who are chosen after a deliberate application process. Approximately 30 days after the micro-grants are issued, U.S. troops will follow up to assess the business owners’ progress.

A micro-grant recipient and local car-repair shop owner said he plans on using the new equipment, a car jack, tools, and a generator, from the grant to improve his business and expand his shop.

According to Sgt. 1st Class William Riley, project manager for Maysan, with Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery Regiment, assigned to 1st Bn., 8th Inf. Regt., business owners who wish to receive a grant must first provide a plan of action of how the grant will be used. Businesses are then screened according to how the grant will impact the individual business and the local economy.

“Many of these shops lack the essential equipment to efficiently conduct day-to-day operations. By providing tools to help make these shops viable economically, it provides an opportunity for them to grow and contribute to the overall economic health and stability of the province,” said Riley.

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Story by Spc. Chastity Boykin

Sgt. 1st Class Betty Ortega, a Miami native and the women's initiative representative for 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, present Kocher Muhammed Ali, a Kirkuk city resident, with a micro-grant, May 2, to help her start a juice making business. Kocher is planning to use the business to teach women how to make juice so they can start their own juice making operations. Photo by Pfc. Justin Naylor

A woman starting her own juice bar business would not sound too unusual to an American. For a woman in Iraq though, the chance to open any kind of business is unique.

Kocher Ali Muhammed received the fourth micro-grant to be presented by the “Red Dragons,” 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, in Kirkuk city, Iraq, to help her start her own juice making company.

“The micro-grants are a form of money used to stimulate business in the area,” said Cpt. Stephen Clark, a San Antonio, Texas, native and information officer for 3rd Bn., 82nd FA Regt.

“We give them enough money to get on their feet,” explained Clark.

For Kocher, this is more than just a chance to get on her feet; it is a chance to assist the fellow women of Kirkuk.

“We are trying to help women become independent,” said Kocher. “Learning a trade gives them the opportunity to support their families.”

“Women aren’t always given the chance to start businesses,” explained Kocher. “We [women] are starting out with this small business and we going to work our way up.”

This gives women the chance to show the country of Iraq that they are capable of starting a business and being successful on their own, said Kocher.

By starting businesses, women are showing that they are capable of doing more than working in the house cooking and cleaning, explained Sgt. 1st Class Betty Ortega, a Miami native and the women’s initiative representative for the “Red Dragon” battalio.

“This will allow them to employ other women,” said Ortega.

According to Ortega, women in Kirkuk city are in the “crawl” phase in their quest for equality. They are opening up small shops like this and are beginning to join the work force in higher numbers.

“We are doing anything we can to broaden their capabilities,” said Ortega.

Kocher will be using her business to do more than just make juice; she will be training a new group of 10 women every two weeks on how to make their own juices and desserts, creating the opportunity for these women to go out and start their own juice businesses.

Kocher Muhammed Ali (left), stands with a group of friends after receiving a micro-grant, May 2, from 3rd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, to help her start a juice making business in Kirkuk city. Photo by Pfc. Justin Naylor

To obtain the money to start her business, Kocher filled out an application and submitted it to the “Red Dragons.” She answered a few questions about the type of business she planned to start, how much experience she had, and how she was going to come up with any other money needed to get the business up and running.

She explained exactly what supplies she would need, the quantity she needed, and how much they cost.

She submitted her application to 2nd Brigade for review and final approval, and the entire process only took about a week from the start of the application to the delivery of the grant to Kocher.

This particular grant comes after weeks of Soldiers taking to the streets of Kirkuk city explaining to the locals about what micro-grants are and how they work.

“It’s a way to inject money into the local economy,” said Clark.

The great thing about these micro-grants is they have such a fast turnaround time, explained Clark.

Thanks to a little help from the “Red Dragons,” the residents of Kirkuk city will soon have a new spot to buy freshly made, healthy juice. Chai lovers need not be immediately worried.

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Story by Pfc. Justin Naylor