'Regulars' Soldiers distribute microgrants to Bayaa neighborhood after terrorist attack

Courtesy Photo | Residents of Bayaa, a neighborhood in southern Baghdad's Rashid District, organized efforts to repair local shops after terrorists detonated a car bomb on the 9th Street Market, damaging more than 20 stores. Coalition forces assisted the community by offering microgrants to store owners that need capital to repair or expand their stores. Soldiers from the 1st 'Regulars' Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division - Baghdad visited local shops to assess the damage caused when a car bomb detonated, Oct. 12, 2008, in the Iraqi community killing Iraqi residents of the Bayaa community. The Soldiers distributed microgrant applications and discussed the process for receiving the one-time grant issued by CF to help the small business-owners repair and rebuild their shops on the 9th Street Market in the Rashid District.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

10.12.2008

Courtesy Story

1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By Capt. Jeffrey Tounge
1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE FALCON, Iraq — Multi National Division – Baghdad Soldiers visited small business-owners in a West Rashid market the day after a violent car bomb detonated, Oct. 12, 2008, that killed five residents and injured 12 others.

"Regulars" Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conducted microgrant assessments in the days following the deadly attack to assist the Iraqi citizens of the Bayaa community to repair and rebuild their shops and businesses in the Rashid District of southern Baghdad.

The microgrant program, a special grant issued by coalition forces to stimulate small business growth in select market areas, provides stability and substance to local Iraqi communities, said Capt. Nate Rawlings, civil affairs officer, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div., MND-B.

The terrorist attack, suspected to be initiated by al-Qaida in Iraq, was assessed as an attempt to create destruction and instability in Bayaa, he said.

The Regulars Battalion recognized this Bayaa neighborhood market's need for economic recovery after the blast that damaged more than 20 stores along the 9th Street Market.

"These stores can flourish and provide significant support to Bayaa if they can receive a jump start," said 2nd Lt. Matthew Addison, a fire support officer from Douglasville, Ga., assigned to Company D, 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, attached to the 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

"The initial costs and repairs can be covered by the microgrants to provide a future for these stores," said Addison, who coordinates civil affairs operations for his company and is directly responsible for issuing the microgrants to the store owners.

After five days of assessments and engaging the community, the Regular Soldiers were able to grant 14 microgrants to the shop owners along the 9th Street Market area.

"This influx of capital will strengthen the economy in this Bayaa-mixed residential and commercial area, providing an increasingly stable community," explained Rawlings.

The intent of attacks by AQI terrorist groups is to create chaos and instability; but with the help of coalition forces, the Bayaa community is back on track to security and stability, said Addison.

• Date Taken: 10.12.2008
• Date Posted: 10.18.2008 09:25
• Story ID: 25174
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ