MANDEVILLE, Jamaica – Micro Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) from Central Jamaica gained access to financial support and practical guidance on securing business funding through the Jamaica Business Development Corporation’s (JBDC) Financing Fridays initiative, held at the Golf View Hotel in Mandeville, Manchester, on Friday, October 23, 2026.
The initiative, held under the theme “Financing Solutions for MSMEs in Central Jamaica”, brought together thirty-five entrepreneurs and representatives from five financial institutions to explore loan products, grant opportunities, equity financing and alternative funding solutions to support business development and expansion.
The session formed part of the JBDC’s continued efforts to address one of the most persistent challenges facing Jamaica’s MSMEs, access to suitable financing.
Speaking at the event, Manager of the JBDC’s Business Advisory Services Unit, Melissa Barrett, explained that while financial products are available, many entrepreneurs struggle to identify suitable funding opportunities or meet the requirements established by lending institutions.
Through Financing Fridays, the JBDC is seeking to address these challenges by creating opportunities for direct engagement between entrepreneurs and financiers, while providing the technical assistance needed to improve their financing readiness.
Participating financial institutions included National Commercial Bank (NCB), Sagicor Bank, First Global Bank, JMMB and the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ).
BRIDGING THE FINANCING GAP
A major feature of the event was the opportunity for business owners to discuss their financing needs, explore available products and gain a better understanding of the requirements for accessing capital.
“We are bringing capital providers directly to you,” Barrett told participants.
The programme also featured a panel discussion examining the financing landscape for MSMEs, including the requirements for accessing loans, overcoming barriers to financing, matching funding solutions to business needs and exploring alternatives to traditional bank lending.
Barrett noted that the JBDC is also placing greater emphasis on helping entrepreneurs become finance-ready, particularly in areas such as financial recordkeeping, business planning and the preparation of financial projections.
She explained that these are critical considerations for financial institutions when assessing businesses for funding.
To address these gaps, the JBDC continues to provide business development support, including assistance with bookkeeping, business plans, budgets and pitch preparation.
The Corporation is also facilitating access to technical assistance opportunities through its institutional partners, including the DBJ, to help entrepreneurs strengthen their operations and meet financing requirements.
SUPPORTING BUSINESS GROWTH
The event also saw 10 MSMEs (JBDC clients) receiving grants valued at J$100,000 each following assessment by the JBDC, representing a total allocation of J$1 million.
While the grants were targeted at eligible businesses affected by Hurricane Melissa, the wider Financing Fridays initiative focused on helping entrepreneurs understand and access the financial resources needed to sustain and grow their businesses.
The Manchester staging also represented an expansion of Financing Fridays beyond its traditional association with the JBDC’s Accelerator Programme, bringing financing information and institutional partnerships closer to entrepreneurs served by its regional business development network.
The JBDC maintains that improving access to finance requires more than the availability of funding. It also demands stronger business preparation, greater awareness of financial products and sustained collaboration between business development institutions and the financial sector. The agency has plans for other stagings of Financing Fridays in other parishes in coming months.
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