97 Small Businesses Receive Support as BERRy Project Rolls Out First Grant Payments

Kingstown, Saint Vincent — December 5, 2025
In a major step toward revitalizing small enterprises affected by Hurricane Beryl, the Beryl Emergency Resilient Recovery Project (BERRy) has successfully disbursed its first round of Business Support Grants. A total of 97 micro and small business owners across Saint Vincent and the Grenadines received XCD $376,000, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s ongoing recovery efforts.

The grants, distributed to cohorts one through four, are designed to help entrepreneurs resume operations, replace damaged tools and equipment, and stabilize income streams disrupted by the hurricane’s impact. For many recipients, this financial boost represents not just relief but a chance to rebuild stronger and more sustainably.

A key feature of the initiative is its focus on capacity building. Before receiving their grants, business owners participated in an intensive two-day training workshop delivered by the Centre for Enterprise Development (CED). Sessions were held across mainland Saint Vincent, Canouan, and Union Island, equipping participants with practical skills in financial management, marketing, and strategies for surviving economic shocks.

CED will continue to support recipients with six months of coaching and monitoring, ensuring businesses can apply their training effectively and strengthen long-term resilience.

Project coordinators note that this blend of financial assistance and skills development forms the backbone of the BERRy approach — supporting immediate recovery while preparing entrepreneurs to withstand future challenges.

The BERRy Project has also encouraged the public to stay tuned for details on a second round of Business Support Grants, signaling even more opportunities ahead for Vincentian entrepreneurs.

As Saint Vincent and the Grenadines continues to rebuild, initiatives like BERRy bring renewed hope, stability, and momentum to the small business community — the heartbeat of the local economy.