The presentation of ESP’s Entrepreneur Guide and Policy Brief. From left: ESP Project Manager Anisa Dijkhoffz, Angie’s Pizza founder Angelica Brown, Minister of TEATT Grisha Heyliger-Marten and World Bank Task Team Leader Melissa Metz.
PHILIPSBURG--A new Entrepreneur Guide and Policy Brief based on the experiences of hundreds of local businesses have been presented to government, with recommendations aimed at improving support and access to financing for small businesses.
The publications were developed through the St. Maarten Trust Fund’s Enterprise Support Project (ESP), which is managed by the National Recovery Program Bureau (NRPB). They were presented during the project’s “From Recovery to Resilience” networking event at Pasture Piece on October 26.
Established in 2020 to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) recover from Hurricane Irma and strengthen their businesses, ESP has provided US $20.2 million in financing to 325 businesses. The support helped sustain 718 full-time equivalent jobs, including 428 new jobs.
A further 374 individuals received business training, while 56 businesses took part in coaching after receiving financing.
The Entrepreneur Guide is intended for entrepreneurs at every stage of their business journey. Drawing on the project’s experience and real stories from beneficiaries, it covers practical aspects of doing business in St. Maarten, including developing a usable business plan, preparing realistic financial projections and getting ready for hurricane season.
The Policy Brief shares lessons from the project, including what worked and what did not. Its recommendations include a sequenced support model that combines training, business advisory services, financing and coaching.
It also recommends establishing a guarantee or collateral facility and a functioning credit bureau, as well as incorporating financial literacy into the education system.
During the handover, ESP Project Manager Anisa Dijkhoffz introduced the publications.
World Bank Task Team Leader Melissa Metz presented them to Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Grisha Heyliger-Marten.
The minister said support for entrepreneurs must continue beyond the lifespan of individual projects. She highlighted the ministry’s priorities, including entrepreneurship education, financial literacy, improved access to investment and modernised business licensing. She also welcomed the publications as resources to help guide future policies and practical action in support of local businesses.
Toyin Jagha, the World Bank’s programme manager for the St. Maarten Trust Fund, reflected on her own experience as a young entrepreneur and the value of having a support system. She pointed to ESP’s combination of financing, training, guidance and coaching, and said the publications would help carry those lessons forward. “Let us keep coaching and training at the heart of every small business programme in St. Maarten,” she urged.
NRPB Deputy Director Rueben Thompson also highlighted the importance of preserving the knowledge gained through ESP’s work with local businesses. He described the publications as part of the project’s lasting contribution, offering practical guidance to future business owners and helping government and other partners determine how to support them.
The event included a testimonial from Angelica Brown, founder of Angie’s Pizza, who shared how ESP had supported her business journey. Brown spoke about the challenges she faced as a new entrepreneur and the perseverance needed to continue. She said financing from the project enabled her to purchase equipment and grow her business, and expressed appreciation for the support she received.
With the project’s closure scheduled for June 30, 2028, the ESP team will continue working with the World Bank, government and financial institutions through its Access to Finance Study.
The study will identify financing gaps and recommend practical ways to improve access to finance for MSMEs.
The project will also provide individual business coaching, assess business resilience and work with the Ministry of TEATT to develop standards for the governance, monitoring and quality of MSME programmes.
The Entrepreneur Guide and Policy Brief will remain available after the project closes. Current and aspiring entrepreneurs can access the Entrepreneur Guide through the ESP
webpage at www.nrpbsxm.org/esp. The guide offers practical advice and encouragement for those starting a business, dealing with challenges or planning for growth.
The Enterprise Support Project is implemented by the NRPB and funded by the St. Maarten Trust Fund, which is financed by the Government of the Netherlands and administered by the World Bank.
