Berry Technologie

As the operator of Berry Technologie – a sole proprietorship that provides IT services, training and computer sales and maintenance – he knew that he needed to keep pace with the rapidly evolving technology market to remain relevant in the field. Herein lies the problem: the equipment could easily cost thousands, a sum that is hard for a small business to come by.

“I needed to progress, to get to a whole other level of effectiveness and efficiency. But a new printer cost $2,000. Should I pay the insurance for my car or buy a printer?” said Berry about some of the difficult choices he was forced to consider.

A solution appeared when the Enterprise Support Project (ESP) launched on August 12, 2020. This project of the Sint Maarten Trust Fund aims to support the country’s economic recovery through direct financial assistance to small businesses.

After some gentle persuading from a friend while on a hiking trip, Berry decided to apply in October, becoming part of the first group of small business owners to do so.

Berry opted for ESP’s Asset and Repair package, which is a financing option comprising a 65% grant and 35% loan. Now with ESP funding, Berry has procured new routers, switches, antennas, and other pieces of IT equipment, all of which he is confident will help his business thrive.

This is already becoming evident to Berry, as he jokingly told a story of other professionals in the field – the proverbial kids in a candy store – dropping by his workplace to appraise the newly purchased assets.

“When you have another technician that’s as good as you, or maybe even better, coming to your office to see what all you got. You know you got the right stuff,” he said.

When asked if the decision to apply was a tough one to make, Berry felt that the answer was too obvious to warrant a response.

“Hard?!” Berry asked rhetorically, trying in vain to dampen the incredulous tone in his voice. “This project comes up and says, ‘Hey you only have to pay back 35 percent’. Who in their right mind would not want to do that? You would have to be crazy not to.”

In the meantime, Berry has become something of a project ambassador, and avidly tries to convince other entrepreneurs and small businesses to follow in his footsteps.

“Just get your paperwork together and apply,” Berry says. “A lot of businesses need a little extra help right now. A lot are going through what I’m going through. This recession don’t have no friends.”