DBJ Launches J$10 Billion M5 Business Recovery Programme to Support Enterprises Affected by Hurricane Melissa
The Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), an agency of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, has announced the launch of the M5 Business Recovery Programme, a J$10 billion intervention designed to restore operations, rebuild capacity and sustain enterprise continuity following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa on Jamaica’s productive sector. This programme follows directives from Prime Minister, Dr. The Most Honourable Andrew Holness.
The M5 Business Recovery Programme will provide concessional loan financing, grant support and credit enhancement solutions to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and other productive businesses that suffered losses and disruptions as a result of the hurricane.
J$1 billion is immediately available for deployment through approved financial institutions (AFIs) and microfinance institutions (MFIs).
The J$10 billion programme will be deployed over an 18-month period through, using a blended funding model:
- Government of Jamaica – J$3 billion in Q4 of the 2025/2026 financial year.
- Government of Jamaica – J$7 billion disbursed over the 2026/2027 financial year, to be on-lent through the DBJ.
“Hurricane Melissa was a major humanitarian disaster and social tragedy. The economic impact of this weather event was also significant. In no uncertain terms, Hurricane Melissa severely disrupted the productive backbone of our economy. The M5 Business Recovery Programme is DBJ’s structured response to help enterprises stabilise, restart and rebuild following the devastation many have faced. Much of our national recovery hinges the recovery of our productive enterprise. We need commercial operations up and running and our people supported with a secure income. This Government is determined to ensure that no viable business be permanently set back by Hurricane Melissa.” — Prime Minister Holness
Prime Minister Holness is asking urging business to use this opportunity to build more productive and resilient operations. Prime Minister also added, “Post-Melissa recovery must also be a productivity and resilience push. Yes, these interventions are designed to get businesses back on their feet, but they are also to help businesses invest in better equipment, stronger systems and more resilient infrastructure so they can produce more, compete better and create higher-quality jobs. Through supporting recovery in a strategic all-of-government manner, we can lay the foundation for a stronger, more dynamic Jamaican economy. We can build back better.”
The M5 Business Recovery Programme is built around a three-track framework to meet enterprises where they are in the recovery journey:
- R1 – Refinance (Financial Stabilisation & Debt Support): Focus on restructuring and refinancing existing obligations to ease cash flow pressures.
- R2 – Reboot (Working Capital & Business Continuity): Provides short-term working capital to restart operations, restock inventory and meet payroll.
- R3 – Rebuild (Major Asset Restoration & Physical Recovery): Financing for repair or replacement of major productive assets, equipment and physical infrastructure.
In crafting this framework, DBJ engaged in extensive consultation with its partners and private sector groups.
Facilities under the Rebuild component of the programme will offer support of up to J$50 million per enterprise, with tenors of up to 10 years and access to 80–90% collateral support through DBJ’s Credit Enhancement Facility, improving creditworthiness and access to finance for MSMEs.
The programme will place special emphasis on critical productive and employment-generating sectors that were significantly affected by Hurricane Melissa, including agriculture (fisheries, crops, livestock), manufacturing (food and beverage, textiles and apparel, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals), tourism (craft, local hospitality, attractions) and distribution (retail and wholesale).
However, all eligible productive sectors will be able to access M5 solutions where they can demonstrate hurricane-related impact and a viable recovery plan.
In the coming weeks, DBJ will issue detailed guidelines on eligibility criteria, application processes and the specific terms of each facility under the M5 framework. AFIs and MFIs will also be equipped to begin accepting applications from qualifying businesses.