Farmers, fisherfolk, and tourism stakeholders in the breadbasket parish of St Elizabeth will benefit from “unconditional grants” through a partnership between Blue Mahoe Charitable Foundation (BMCF) and the BREDS Treasure Beach Foundation.

On Wednesday, February 4, BMCF and BREDS formalised a partnership with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to provide the grants to micro and small businesses still recovering from Hurricane Melissa. The partnership forms part of BMCF’s broader ‘Together We Rise – From Crisis to Commerce’ initiative, an impact-driven recovery programme focused on rebuilding, restocking, and repairing Jamaica’s MSME sector.

According to BREDS Disaster Recovery Grant Coordinator Gina Mair, it is a “partnership focused on an essential goal: restoring livelihoods and dignity as communities recover from disaster.

“Recovery is not only about rebuilding structures—it is about restoring livelihoods, independence, and the dignity that comes from being able to do for oneself,” she said ahead of the MOU Signing ceremony at Herb House on West King’s House Road in St Andrew.

“Living and working on the ground in Treasure Beach during Hurricane Beryl brought a powerful clarity. Disasters do more than damage buildings—they disrupt independence, routine, and the ability of people to do for themselves. And recovery truly begins when livelihoods are restored,” Mair added.

For Mairs, the partnership has even more personal meaning, being the granddaughter of a St Elizabethan woman. Chairman of BMCF David Mullings shared similar sentiments, highlighting that his paternal family has roots in Black River, the capital of St Elizabeth.

“We had family that were directly impacted from that river,” he shared.

BMCF has already supported recovery efforts through the NCB Foundation and American Friends of Jamaica. Mullings has also created a website, Island 

Phase One of the partnership will prioritise unconditional grants for MSMEs, most severely affected by Hurricane Melissa, delivered through partnerships with carefully selected local organisations.

Mullings framed the initiative as a model of impact-led capitalism.

“I strongly believe in giving back, uplifting others, and teaching people to fish, not just giving them the fish. I call it compassionate capitalism,” he said, adding that the foundation’s mission is to help businesses move from crisis to commerce.

“The BMCF embodies this philosophy. We’re not just providing aid; we’re rebuilding livelihoods and restoring economic independence. Jamaica’s MSME sector is the backbone of our communities, and by helping small business owners restock, repair, and rebuild with dignity, we’re creating jobs and catalysing sustainable recovery from the ground up.”

Eligible micro-businesses with zero to five employees may receive grants of up to $150,000, while small businesses with six to twenty employees may receive up to $500,000 to support inventory replacement, equipment repairs, facility restoration, and restart capital. Unlike traditional financing, these grants are unconditional, designed to restore liquidity quickly and allow business owners to reopen without the burden of debt.

Jason Henzell, Chairman at BREDS, underscored the importance of strong partnerships and diaspora engagement in delivering impact.

“By combining diaspora resources with trusted local leadership, we are ensuring that assistance reaches the people who need it most—quickly, transparently, and with lasting impact. With this agreement, we are able to move resources directly into the hands of business owners who are the backbone of our communities.”

Echoing that commitment to collaboration, Sophia Harris-Lau, executive director of the BMCF, said the initiative provides the diaspora with a credible and impactful way to give back to Jamaica and the wider Caribbean.

“Our Foundation gives the diaspora access to a transparent and accountable way of supporting recovery efforts. Throughout my career as a consultant, trainer, and mentor to entrepreneurs around the world, I’ve seen firsthand the resilience of Jamaica’s MSME owners, and with the right support, they don’t just survive; they create jobs. With unconditional grants and strong partnerships, we can initiate real recovery,” she said.

With its deep community footprint in Treasure Beach and surrounding areas, BREDS will lead application intake, vetting, site verification, and on-the-ground disbursement, ensuring transparency and measurable impact.

The MoU takes effect immediately and will run for an initial two-year period, with structured impact reporting, donor transparency, and joint public storytelling forming core pillars of the programme. Donations to support the programme may be made via the BMCF’s website at https://islandforward.com/.