Available Funds: 500,000 USD*
Available funds as per January 2025*
ESP Application Window is Now Closed – Applications can no longer be accepted.
Closing Date & Time: February 7th, 2025 5:00 PM
Mark your calendars!
The ESP MSME EXPO 2025 is happening Saturday, May 31st 10:30am – 4:00pm at the Aleeze Convention Center and it’s FREE to attend!
-Discover innovative local businesses
-Connect with entrepreneurs
-Explore (and shop!) products and services
-Learn how MSMEs are helping shape a more resilient Sint Maarten economy
Get all the details in the full press release:
Resources
Small businesses are the bedrock of Sint Maarten’s economy. They are a major source of job creation and help encourage innovation; they also provide many of the products and services in our daily lives and contribute to the social cohesion of our island communities.
However, access to finance is a longstanding challenge to small businesses creation and growth, particularly those run by women and young entrepreneurs. Moreover, this sector has been hit the hardest by the devastation of Hurricanes Irma and Maria and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given the importance of small businesses, the NRPB, as an implementing agency of the Trust Fund, launched the Enterprise Support Project (ESP). This project aims to strengthen their recovery and increase the resilience of businesses in Sint Maarten. This involves cooperation with financial institutions, such as commercial banks and social lenders, that offer loans and grants to assist small businesses and enhance their services.
The project maintains prioritization of new, micro and small businesses in need of financial assistance due to reduced funds available. The micro and small business category is defined based on the SME Policy Framework of the Ministry of TEATT.
Read more about the project guidelines here.
How do we support small businesses?
We offer two packages:
Package 1: Working Capital
Package 2: Asset and Non-Structural Repair (AR)
Package 2 incentives:
New MSME
Micro Business
Micro-businesses that apply for an AR package size ≤ $25,000 may be eligible for a maximum 75 percent grant and at least 25 percent loan. This is unavailable for enterprises with shareholders or managers of multiple registered enterprises on Sint Maarten. This is only applicable to one package.
All other Businesses
For all other eligible businesses not meeting the new MSME and Micro-business criteria; the AR investment is structured so that a maximum of 65 percent of the investment is a grant and at least 35 percent loan, with the maximum grant amount limited to $65,000.
New MSMEs may be eligible for a maximum 75 percent grant and minimum 25 percent loan if they meet the two criteria:
- Complete the ESP training, Small Business Academy by Qredits, or any other ESP-supported training.
- Receive assistance from a financial advisor or accountant.
This is unavailable for enterprises with shareholders or managers of multiple registered enterprises on Sint Maarten. This is only applicable for one package at a maximum of $85,000.
Eligible enterprises can combine the two packages. However, the total application cannot exceed $150,000 for existing businesses and $85,000 for new businesses. Businesses cannot exceed $65,000 in grants.
Conflict of Interest
Eligible businesses cannot have a conflict of interest in their main business or revenue stream (e.g. in regards to their ownership or management). See POM for more information.
Connected Businesses
Each MSME is eligible for only one application. The maximum package amount is US$150,000 for existing MSMEs and US$85,000 for new MSMEs.
Second applications from existing beneficiaries will not be accepted.
Businesses that are connected to an existing ESP beneficiary or applicant are also not eligible. A connected MSME is one that shares more than 25% common ownership with another MSME that has already received ESP support.
Application process
1Review the eligibility criteria
The Eligibility Criteria:
- For-profit enterprises with a maximum average monthly revenue of Naf. 100,000 (≈ US$55,866)
- Registered with the Tax administration and up to date at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Compliant with Sint Maarten’s environmental policy and the World Bank’s social and environmental requirements
- The owners and managing directors must be in good standing. All applicants will be required to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct (Verklaring Omtrent Gedrag – VOG) from the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
- Operated within an eligible sector. Ineligible sectors include, e.g. land purchase, weapons, and gambling. The ESP also does not finance bulldozers, excavators, front loaders and luxury items. Additionally, businesses operating in the transportation sector are no longer eligible to apply.
The list of excluded activities is part of the supplemental application form as published here.
Additional exclusions:
- No vehicle financing/requests (Applicants cannot request vehicles within their application) including but not limited to passenger cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, commercial trucks and construction vehicles.
- Second applications from existing beneficiaries will not be accepted. (If the MSME has already been approved for 1 application, they are not eligible to submit a 2nd application).
- No submissions from the transportation companies will be accepted Communicated on December 18, 2024.
2Send all required documents to [email protected] for pre-screening
During the pre-screening process, the ESP Team may reach out with questions. Once the prescreening is complete, you will be notified of your status. Please contact the Enterprise Support Project team via [email protected]
3Fill out the supplemental application form
4Prepare the required documents for your business
5Your application will be pre-screened
During the pre-screening phase, the application will be reviewed for eligibility and viability. If further information or clarification is needed, you will have 5 business days to provide any pending items.
6The NRPB will finalise the approval process
Once your application has been approved, you will receive a Beneficiary Agreement from the NRPB and a Credit Agreement from your preferred financial institution. Applicants are not required to pay any additional charges for services other than those set forth in the Credit Agreement and fees due to an accountant/financial advisor (if applicable).
If you have any questions, please contact the Enterprise Support Project team via [email protected]
Watch the video to learn more!
Laws, Decrees, Guidelines and Ordinances
Projects funded by the Trust Fund must adhere to both Sint Maarten’s national laws and the World Bank’s guidelines. Medium- and small-sized businesses receiving financing through the ESP are required to comply with all relevant national regulations and World Bank guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
1What happens after approval?
- When your application has been approved by both the National Recovery Program (NRPB) and your Preferred Financial Institution (PFI), you will sign a credit agreement with your PFI and a beneficiary agreement with the NRPB. These agreements include the conditions for your approval and the disbursement of funds.
- Please take note of the project-specific conditions within your beneficiary agreement which may include conditions that must be met before the disbursement of funds.
- When both agreements are signed, the NRPB will disburse the funds to the PFI.
- The PFI will disburse large ticket items directly to your supplier and disburse the funds for the remaining assets & working capital directly to your account. Funds may also be disbursed in tranches depending on the agreement with the PFI and/or NRPB.
- You will begin sourcing the approved assets listed on your supplemental form within 2 months of receiving your funds.
- You will provide the NRPB with receipts for the assets purchased.
2How do I remain compliant once funds are received?
- You can only purchase the approved assets listed on your supplemental form.
- Once the funds are disbursed into your account, you must start procuring your assets within 2 months. If it is not possible to procure all the items listed on your supplemental form within 2 months, you will notify the NRPB of the pending assets and the reason for the delay.
- If the assets you were approved for are no longer available and you must deviate from your approved assets listed on your supplemental form, you must first inform the NRPB of the changes you would like to make and only once the deviations are approved you can purchase the assets.
- If there are any funds remaining / unused due to price changes or other factors, the MSME must reimburse the funds to the PFI/NRPB. The unused funds will then be calculated in accordance with the grant/loan and the loan portion will be deducted from the repayment amount.
- The MSME shall submit to the NRPB, as soon as available, but in any event within 45 days after the end of the calendar year, an annual report on environmental and worker health and safety matters relating to the project and its operations. A template for this report is available for download on the NRPB/ESP webpage and will also be sent to you at the beginning of each calendar year. When submitting your annual report, please take note of your project specific conditions in your beneficiary agreement as you may need to provide additional information or documentation.
- Ensure all documents remain up to date (i.e. Chamber, Tax declarations, business license(s), permit(s), etc.)
3What is the deadline for application.
Final deadline for submission is February 7th , 2025, before 5:00 PM. Please note that the deadline presented is subject to change and should be considered a moving estimate.
This estimate depends on various factors, including but not limited to the volume of applications currently being processed and the number of applications awaiting disbursement of funds.
Although the deadline for application submissions is set for February 7th, 2025, it’s important to understand that multiple variables can influence the remaining amount of funds available for disbursement.
As such, we advise all stakeholders to approach this estimate with caution, keeping in mind that actual figures may vary based on real-time processing outcomes and other unforeseen factors affecting fund allocation.
4What happens if my application was denied or if I retracted my application?
During the final submission period, from February 7th to February 7th, applicants will have only one opportunity to submit the required documents. If the application is denied, resubmission will not be allowed.
Any person or entity who believes their rights have been adversely affected by the Enterprise Support Project may report such grievance to the NRPB through the NRPB’s complaint procedure:
Whatever business phase you are in, from startup to mature, our partners can assist you in providing financing for your investment needs. From beauty salons to construction companies, you can get in touch with the bank of your choice.
