NEARLY 300 applications were processed on Wednesday, during the first staging of the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) Restoration Grant Programme application drive in St Elizabeth.

This moved the total number of applications to 1,485 as the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce (MIIC) continued to roll-out the programme.

Led by Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Senator Aubyn Hill, Wednesday’s drive was staged at Junction Guest House and the Black River Independent Baptist Church.

Hill engaged applicants at the Black River location as they went through the application process, speaking with business operators and encouraging eligible persons to apply.

He said the community- based approach is intended to ensure that eligible entrepreneurs are able to access the support available to them. “We are taking the programme directly into the communities because we want the small shopkeeper, the barber, the mechanic, the market vendor, and other self-employed Jamaicans affected by Hurricane Melissa to access the support available to them.

If you are eligible, apply. We want to help you replace the tools and equipment you lost, get your business operating again, and get back to earning,” said Hill.

Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce Senator Aubyn Hill speaks with residents of Black River and surrounding communities during the MIIC MSME Restoration Grant Programme Application Drive at Black River Independent Baptist Church, on Wednesday.

A member of the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce’s MSME Restoration Grant Programme team assists a Black River resident and small business owner with completing his application during the application drive at Black River Independent Baptist Church, St Elizabeth, on Wednesday.

Application stations and help desks were established at both locations, where MIIC and agency volunteers — including Dr Cliff Rile, the grant programme lead and director general of Jamaica’s Hazardous Substances Regulatory Authority— assisted applicants with the online process, answered questions about eligibility, and provided one-onone support.

Companies Office of Jamaica outreach teams also went into surrounding communities, distributing flyers and engaging micro and small businesses and self-employed persons about the programme.

A Tax Administration Jamaica team was also on site, processing tax registration number (TRN) registrations for people requiring them to complete their applications, while justices of the peace from surrounding communities assisted known applicants with the required verification and attestation process.

The $500-million MSME Restoration Grant Programme provides support through the FASST Biz Grant for eligible micro and small businesses, and the Tools of Trade Grant for eligible self-employed Jamaicans.

The FASST Biz Grant provides up to $350,000, depending on business size and sector, to support approved restoration of business premises and replacement of tools, equipment and stock damaged or lost because of Hurricane Melissa.

The Tools of Trade Grant provides up to $100,000 to eligible, self-employed Jamaicans to replace or restore income-generating tools, equipment and approved stock.

St Elizabeth is one of seven grant-eligible parishes, along with Westmoreland, Hanover, St James, Trelawny, and affected areas in St Ann and Manchester.

Applications opened on October 6, 2026 and close on November 16, 2026.

The St Elizabeth activities are the first in a wider programme of application drives and outreach initiatives designed to increase access to application assistance in affected communities.

Eligible persons are encouraged to only apply through the official MIIC MSME Restoration Grant Programme portal at melissabizrelief.miic.

gov.jm.

For application assistance, persons may call (658) 207-6791 or (658) 207-6176.