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Full details for both grants are below — who qualifies, what’s covered, and how to apply. Not sure which one fits you? Jump to the comparison, or read through FASST and Tools of Trade first.

FASST Biz Grant

MIIC FASST Biz Grant

Was Your Business Damaged By Hurricane Melissa?

The FASST Biz Grant helps eligible micro and small businesses repair premises and replace tools, equipment, and stocks damaged during the hurricane.

Who Qualifies

Micro and small businesses with up to 20 employees and annual turnover up to J$75 million, in these priority sectors:

Personal services

  • Salons
  • Barbershops
  • Dry cleaners
  • Gyms

Wholesale and retail trade

  • Wholesalers
  • Retail shops and stores

Food and beverage services

  • Restaurants
  • Cafés
  • Coffee shops

There are two ways to qualify for either grant:

Registered businesses
  • Valid business registration
  • Turnover under J$75 million/year
  • A valid TRN, FY2024/25 taxes filed
  • Payroll returns (S01) if you have employees
Micro and small enterprises
  • A trade licence from your Municipal Authority, or registration with COJ or TPDCo
  • Plus a valid TRN
  • Full formal registration is not required

Who Does Not Qualify

You will not be eligible for the FASST Biz Grant if:

Business size & sector

  • Your business is a medium or large enterprise — more than 20 employees, or annual turnover over J$75 million.
  • Your business is outside the four eligible sectors: manufacturing (including qualifying agro-processing and craft production), wholesale and retail trade, food and beverage services, or personal services.

Registration & documentation

  • You cannot show at least one required credential — a Trade Licence, Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ) registration, or, for qualifying craft vendors, an applicable TPDCo record.
  • You don’t have a valid TRN (and a valid business TRN, if registered with the COJ).

Location

  • Your business is located outside the affected parishes: St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St. James, Trelawny, St. Ann and Manchester.

Hurricane impact

  • Your business was not operating before Hurricane Melissa.
  • Your business did not sustain Hurricane Melissa-related damage or loss to property, tools, equipment or stocks.

How the grant can be used

  • You’re applying for premises repair but are not the owner-occupier of that premises.
  • You’re seeking reimbursement for purchases or repairs made before your grant was approved.
  • You’re seeking cash, unrestricted funds, or purchases outside what the grant authorizes.

Eligibility

Support is based on need — The grant goes toward repairing your premises and replacing the specific tools, equipment, and stocks your business lost. Grant allocations vary based on the size of the business and the industry in which it operates. Confirmation of grant amount will be communicated after applications have been assessed and approved.

What it can be used for

This isn’t a cash payment made directly to you. Instead, we pay approved suppliers on your behalf for the repairs, tools, equipment or stocks covered by your grant. Once you’re approved, you’ll be told exactly how and when this happens.

Start My FASST Application

Tools of Trade (ToT) Grant

MIIC Tools of Trade Grant

Did you lose your tools or stocks?

If you are Self Employed, your business is not registered formally — and the hurricane damaged or destroyed the tools and stocks you used to earn a living, this grant is for you.

Who qualifies

Self-employed individuals working in an eligible trade or service, including:

  • Craft and market vendors
  • Mechanics
  • Carpenters
  • Masons
  • Tailors
  • Hairdressers and barbers
  • Gardeners
  • Beauty therapists and cosmetologists
  • Cook shop operators

Disclaimer: Persons not eligible include licensed professionals and independent contractors such as doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers and IT specialists.

Who Does Not Qualify

You will not be eligible for the Tools of Trade Grant if:

  • You are not self-employed.
  • You already qualify for the FASST Biz Grant through a valid Trade Licence, COJ registration, or qualifying TPDCo record as a craft vendor.
  • You’re a licensed professional or independent professional contractor — including doctors, lawyers, accountants, IT specialists and engineers.
  • You don’t operate a qualifying trade or service — eligible trades are craft and market vending, mechanics, carpentry, masonry, tailoring, hairdressing/barbering, gardening, beauty therapy/cosmetology, and cook-shop operations.
  • You don’t have a valid personal TRN.
  • You cannot provide the required verification evidence (your signed verifier letter).
  • Your trade or service was not active before Hurricane Melissa.
  • You did not experience Hurricane Melissa-related loss of income-generating tools, equipment or stocks.
  • You operate outside the affected parishes: St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St. James, Trelawny, St. Ann and Manchester.
  • You’re seeking cash conversion, retrospective reimbursement, or purchases outside what the grant authorizes.

Eligibility

The Tools of Trade Grant provides a fixed amount, the same for every eligible individual, to replace the tools, equipment, and stocks you lost — no formal business registration required. Your grant is confirmed once your application is verified.

What you’ll need

  • A valid TRN
  • A signed verification letter confirming you’re self-employed in your trade —
    • from a Justice of the Peace (JP), Member of Parliament (MP),
    • or the president of a recognized industry association
    • or chamber (PSOJ, JMEA, JCC, SBAJ, MSME Alliance,
    • or your Parish Chamber of Commerce)
Start My Tools of Trade Application

Compare FASST Biz Grant vs. Tools of Trade (ToT) Grant

Not sure which applies to you? Here’s a quick side-by-side:

FASST Biz GrantTools of Trade (ToT) Grant
Who is it for?Registered or semi-formal micro/small businessesSelf-employed tradespeople who don’t qualify for FASST
What it coversBusiness recovery: premises, tools, equipment, stocksReplacing lost or damaged tools of trade and stocks
Support amountVaries by sector and business sizeA fixed amount, the same for every eligible individual
Registration needed?Business registration, trade licence, or COJ/TPDCo recordNot required
TRN required?YesYes
VerificationTRN + document checks + site inspectionTRN + signed verifier letter (JP/MP/chamber) + inspection

How to apply — the same 5 steps for both programmes

Applications are submitted online at https://payout.gov.jm/. The deadline to apply is November 16, 2026 — apply early to allow time for verification.

  1. Apply – Submit your application online through the official application platform (click here). This creates a permanent, time-stamped record of your application.
  2. Eligibility screening – We check your application against the criteria for the programme you applied to — location, level of damage, sector, and registration status.
  3. Verification & inspection – The MIIC team will do onsite inspection & verification
  4. Approval – Once verification is complete, your application is approved for the applicable grant.
  5. Disbursement – MIIC will contact you re disbursement of funds

What you’ll need before you start

  • Your TRN
  • Business information and registration/licensing details, where applicable
  • Details of how the hurricane affected you — what was damaged, lost, or disrupted
  • An estimate of the value of your losses
  • For the Tools of Trade Grant: your signed verifier letter (JP, MP, or chamber president)
Begin Your Application

Get Help

Have a question, or need help with your application? Please see our help desk information below or check the FAQs below first.

Contact Us | See FAQs

Help Desk

Tel#: (658) 207-6791 and (658) 207-6176.

Email: melissabizrelief@miic.gov.jm

Website: melissabizreflief.miic.gov.jm