The Honey Bun Foundation has concluded a comprehensive fact-finding mission across three western parishes, engaging directly with micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and those in the Creative Industry, to better understand their most immediate needs following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

The two-day outreach effort included stops in Zion in Holland, Trelawny, followed by Montego Bay and Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, meetings with business leaders coordinated through the region’s chambers of commerce. The session in Montego Bay was facilitated by Jason Russell, president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce. At the same time, the engagement in Savanna-la-Mar was hosted with the support of Moses Chabar, president of the Westmoreland Chamber of Commerce.

Founder of the Honey Bun Foundation Michelle Chong, general manager Nashauna Lalah, and advisory committee member Nicholas Dawson led the mission.

The Honey Bun Foundation was established in 2019 and focuses on providing critical capacity-building assistance to SMEs and the creative industry.

The purpose of the fact-finding visit was to listen, learn, and gather clear insights on how the Foundation can offer more targeted and effective support to these SME in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. Across every stop, business owners expressed a strong sense of optimism and a willingness to collaborate on solutions.

SMEs from a wide cross-section of industries shared their experiences – poultry farmers, restaurant operators, goat farmers, hardware store owners, and creative-sector entrepreneurs. Though their operations and priorities varied widely, each group provided meaningful perspectives on the specific interventions and support that would strengthen their ability to recover and grow.

“We were deeply inspired by the positive spirit we encountered. Every business owner, whether a farmer, a retailer, or a creative entrepreneur, showed resilience and a readiness to move forward. Hearing directly from them ensures that our support aligns with their real, immediate needs,” said Chong.

Lalah said the mission was fruitful. “The diversity of the businesses we engaged with reinforced how important it is for support programmes to be flexible and responsive. The insights we gathered, from supply chain challenges to market access and capacity gaps, will help us design solutions that truly meet people where they are,” she said.

The Honey Bun Foundation also delivered targeted relief cash vouchers during the engagements, offering immediate assistance as SMEs work to rebuild stronger.

This mission underscores the Foundation’s continued commitment to empowering Jamaica’s entrepreneurs by understanding challenges firsthand and crafting support that reflects the realities within each community and industry.